Mexican president accuses regional bloc of 'biased' attitude toward Venezuela's contested elections

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that his government would not attend an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) to examine the Venezuelan electoral process.

Lopez Obrador said Foreign Minister Alicia Barcenas would not attend the meeting called by Latin American countries that are opposed to Maduro. He denounced "biased" attitudes from the OAS and its leader Luis Almagro.

"We are not going to participate because we do not agree with the OAS's biased attitude. Before knowing the results, the OAS director, Luis Almagro, had already recognized one of the candidates without proof of anything. So why are we going to a meeting like this?" he said at a news conference.

The international community has urged President Nicolas Maduro to forfeit his election victory on Sunday after the Venezuelan electoral body signaled a resounding victory for the president with 51.2% of the vote won, prolonging his rule for another six years in office. The opposition and many in the international community denounced the results, alleging fraud.

Opposition leader Marina Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said that they have 73% of the tally sheets, which they claimed prove that Gonzalez won with 70% of the vote.

The electoral and political struggle has resulted in thousands of Venezuelans taking to the streets and demanding an end to Maduro's rule.

The protests turned violent and have left 12 dead, two of them minors, as well as hundreds injured, with more than 700 arrested by authorities.

The OAS issued a statement Tuesday that demanded Maduro recognize Gonzalez as the legitimate winner of the elections and insisted Venezuela hold new elections with electoral observation missions from the EU and the OAS. It said a new National Electoral Authority should be established if Maduro refuses to acknowledge Gonzalez as the winner.

"It is imperative to know about Maduro's acceptance of the minutes in the hands of the opposition and consequently accept his electoral defeat and open the way to the return to democracy in Venezuela," it said.

Lopez Obrador has been critical of the OAS, which he has accused of being subordinate to Washington's interests, and he has called for a new body.

The Mexican president, however, urged Maduro to release the voting certificates and called for peace in Venezuela.

"One thing that is very important, which concerns all Venezuelan brothers, is that there should be no violence and that the electoral authorities should be urged to give all the results and to wait for what they propose," said Lopez Obrador.