VENEZUELA-Oppo Ldr Machado-US Should Do "Much More" Amid Political Crisis

Speaking in a live webcast, Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has said that she believes the US should do "much more" amid the country's ongoing political crisis. Says that a transition in gov't "is in the best interest of companies and creditors".

• Machado claims President Nicolas Maduro's "leverage to negotiate is decreasing".
• The political situation in Venezuela remains febrile following the disputed July presidential election. The opposition and its presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez have claimed victory, alleging the Maduro administration has stolen the election, a claim backed by the US and EU.
• Mass protests have seen thousands detained, while the issuance of an arrest warrant for Gonzalez has further raised the political temperature in the oil-rich nation.
• Until recently, the US' response had been restricted to verbal condemnation of the election outcome and the regime's actions in suppressing protest.
• However, earlier in the week US authorities seized a jet belonging to Maduro, claiming that it was purchased in breach of sanctions in the first concrete action against the Maduro regime. It remains to be seen whether this is the extent of or just the starting gun on US actions intended to pressurise Maduro.