Maduro will meet Putin today

MOSCOW, Sept 24 (AFP): Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, as the embattled South American leader seeks to shore up support from allies.

"All aspects of bilateral cooperation will be discussed," the Russian President's press spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Tuesday.

The focus of the talks would be on "direct meddling in Latin American affairs by third parties".

Washington has imposed an oil embargo on Caracas to undermine Maduro's regime and has repeatedly called on Moscow to withdraw support for the Venezuelan leader.

Russia has rejected the request, accusing the US of wanting to lead a coup in defiance of international law.

Hit by low oil prices, mismanagement and the impact of US sanctions, Venezuela is in freefall and Maduro is seeking support from allies after winning a second term in a controversial vote last year.