US denies claim CIA plotted to kill Maduro

NEW YORK, Sept 15 (BBC): The United States has dismissed claims made by Venezuela that the CIA plotted to assassinate President Maduro and other top officials.
Three US citizens, two Spaniards and one Czech national have been arrested on suspicion of plotting to destabilise the country, the Interior Minister said.
Calling the detainees "mercenaries", Diosdado Cabello claimed that the CIA "is leading the operation" and that hundreds of weapons had been seized.
The US rejected the claims, which come after Washington placed 16 senior government officials under sanctions, as "categorically false".
A spokesperson for the State Department said a US military member was being held and noted "unconfirmed reports of two additional US citizens detained in Venezuela."
Cabello responded by saying the detainees had contacted "French mercenaries" from Eastern Europe and were involved in "an operation to try to attack" Venezuela.