US: Venezuela’s Maduro Relinquishing Power Not About Punishment
The U.S. Special Representative to Venezuela Elliot Abrams told reporters at the State Department that America is "ready for change in Venezuela," and that embattled President Nicolas Maduro leaving power is a critical part of the country being able to move forward toward free elections and a transition to democracy. But Abrams stressed "this isn't about punishment, this isn't about vengeance and we have tried to make that clear." Abrams said he has not yet seen any signs of a willingness by Maduro to negotiate a compromise where he voluntarily leaves power. FILE - U.S. diplomat Elliott Abrams attends a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Venezuela at U.N. headquarters in New York, Feb. 28, 2019. Maduro's re-election in 2018 is considered to be illegitimate by many nations in…