Maduro sends message from prison; welcomes ‘any path to dialogue’ in Venezuela

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro welcomed 'any path of dialogue' in a message from prison.

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured during a military raid on January 3 and are held in a New York detention centre awaiting trial on drug and firearms trafficking charges.

The US-backed interim government, led by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, faces pressure from Washington to open Venezuela to US companies and schedule elections.

Political transition talks between Venezuela's government and opposition are expected to begin in Caracas in the coming week, as agreed by chief government negotiator Jorge Rodriguez and opposition figure Dinorah Figuera.