Venezuela's Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz delivers a speech during the presentation of her office's annual report on 2016 in Caracas, Venezuela, April 1, 2017. Venezuela's Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz on Friday ruled out the prospect of foreign intervention, as the country's political crisis deepened. (Xinhua/Pedro Mattey/AVN)
CARACAS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz on Friday rejected the prospect of foreign intervention, as the country's political crisis deepened.
"I want to firmly say that Venezuela is a sovereign country and Venezuelans do not accept foreign intervention," Ortega said during the presentation of her office's annual report on 2016.
"I am against any type of intervention, against any step that threatens Venezuela's self-determination," said Ortega, while at the same time acknowledging the political turmoil gripping the country and calling for dialogue between the ruling socialist party and the right-wing opposition.
The latest crisis was sparked by Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) announcement on Thursday that it was taking on legislative duties, leading the National Assembly to accuse the court of a coup.
Ortega's rejection of outside intervention coincided with a joint statement by seven Latin American countries and the Union of South American Nations, condemning the situation in Venezuela.
The statement, signed by Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Paraguay, calls on Venezuela to restore the balance of power.
Foreign affairs ministers from South American trade and integration bloc -- the Southern Common Market will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday "to analyze possible solutions" to the Venezuelan crisis, Argentina's Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
