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Two Spanish nationals apprehended in Venezuela not connected to any plot to destabilise country, states Madrid

2 Spanish nationals arrested in Venezuela had no links to the Spanish secret service and Spain was not associated with any strategy to politically destabilize the South American country, a Spanish foreign ministry source stated on Sunday.

Two Spaniards, 3 U.S. people and a Czech citizen were arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of links to declared plans to destabilize the South American nation, Venezuela's interior minister said on Saturday.

Spain rejects and absolutely turns down any insinuation of being linked in an operation of political destabilization in Venezuela, the Spanish foreign ministry source said.

The government has actually confirmed that the (2 Spanish residents) detained do not form part of the Centre for National Intelligence or any state organisation. Spain safeguards a. democratic and tranquil service to the circumstance in Venezuela.

The arrests are most likely to deepen Venezuela's already tense. relations with Spain and the United States after a disputed. governmental election in July.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello informed a press. conference on Saturday that 2 Spaniards were allegedly connected. to Spain's secret service and were preparing the assassination of. a mayor.

He named the Spaniards as José María Basoa and Andrés. Martínez Adasne. Photos of the males were revealed on state. television.

Cabello likewise accused three U.S. citizens and a Czech of. participation in terrorist acts, including declared plans to. assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other. officials.

The U.S. State Department stated on Saturday that any claims. of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are. unconditionally false.

The State Department representative likewise confirmed that a. member of the U.S. armed force was being held and kept in mind. unofficial reports of 2 additional U.S. citizens apprehended in. Venezuela.

On Saturday, a Spanish foreign ministry source told Reuters. it was asking Venezuela to learn more.

The Spanish embassy has sent out a verbal note to the. Venezuelan federal government asking for access to the detained residents. in order to confirm their identities and their nationality and in. order to know what they are implicated of precisely, the source. said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Spanish nationals were detained while taking photos. in the town of Puerto Ayacucho, Cabello stated.

Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Spain last week for. assessments and summoned the Spanish ambassador to appear at. the foreign ministry after a Spanish minister accused Maduro of. running a dictatorship, intensifying diplomatic stress. following Venezuela's disputed presidential election.

Caracas was also angered by Spanish Prime. Minister Pedro Sanchez' choice to meet last Thursday with. Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who. went into exile in Spain recently after being threatened with. arrest by Maduro's routine.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have also. intensified after Washington acknowledged Gonzalez Urrutia as the. winner of the July 28 election.

(source: Reuters)