Venezuela’s President Threatened to Expel CNN

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has threatened to expel the US news network CNN from the country after it reported recent political protests there. Maduro said he would take action if CNN did not “rectify its coverage”.

Local television networks have provided almost no live coverage of the protests against Maduro, which began last month over a wide range of complaints including inflation, violent crime, corruption and shortages of basic products. At least five people have been killed in the clashes which began last month over a wide range of complaints including inflation, violent crime, corruption and shortages of basic products like medical supplies.

The television networks in the country did not provide any live coverage of the protests due to which many opposition supporters turned to CNN Espanol, available to some cable TV subscribers. It has been the only channel broadcasting live the opposition press conference. The only other way for Venezuelans to see opposition leaders speaking live is via streaming websites over faltering broadband connections.

The government accuses the opposition-led “fascists” of promoting violence. Maduro had said earlier that he would send troops to the western state of Tachira, where there has been continuing unrest. Further clashes have been reported clashes in the state of Tachira and in districts of the capital, Caracas. The leader of the opposition, Henrique Capriles, has called for a fresh, peaceful anti-government march last week criticizing the government’s unwillingness to listen.

Maduro lashed out against the coverage of the protests by foreign news organizations.

Bridget Leininger, a CNN spokeswoman for the US network told Reuters that it did not have any immediate response to Maduro’s comments about the channel. Last week, the government removed Colombian TV news channel NTN24 for the live coverage of the protests. When the government has been largely critical of international media coverage, the protesters were concerned with a lack of media freedom.

US President Barack Obama said the Venezuelan government should address “legitimate grievances” of the country instead of “making up false accusations” against US officials.