The Latest: Diplomats urge Venezuela's Maduro to cede power
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The Latest on a regional meeting about Venezuela's political crisis. (all times local):
2:40 p.m.
A dozen Latin America governments have urged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to abstain from being sworn in for a second term next week and cede power until new elections can be held that they say is the only way to restore democracy in the South American nation.
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The strong rebuke came following a meeting Friday of high-ranking diplomats from the 12 regional governments and Canada in Peru's capital to discuss Venezuela's crisis ahead of Maduro's plans to be sworn in Jan. 10 for a second term he won in elections widely condemned as illegitimate.
Mexico also partook in the meeting of the so-called Lima Group but didn't sign the statement.
The group also called for a toughening of sanctions against Maduro's government and expressed support for efforts to initiate proceedings against his government at the International Criminal Court.
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Maduro has disavowed the group's recommendations in the past and his foreign minister on Friday accused the countries of taking orders from U.S. President Donald Trump.