Speaking to supporters in Caracas before meeting with Ernesto Samper, the Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called for a relationship with the United States based on diplomacy and demanded an end to what he sees as a U.S.-backed plan to destabilize his government.

According to the BBC, while addressing his crowds of supporters in the capital city, Maduro called upon the U.S. president to "rectify and stop in time the coup plan (that would see) the destruction of Venezuela."

Maduro also addressed the U.S. leader directly.

"President Obama, I say this with goodwill: We hope that you set a new and different tone with Venezuela," he said.

In response to the request, Samper said that he would bring Maduro's concerns to member states of Union of South American Nations, who would in turn decide whether or not to take any mediating action.

Maduro's request for mediation comes just days after he accused U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden of plotting against his Socialist government. Biden's office has called the allegation "baseless and patently false."

In December, the U.S. imposed sanctions against Venezuelan officials, and in the wake of this Maduro has asked Samper to be a mediator between Venezuela and the U.S. The sanctions were directed at Venezuelan officials who have been allegedly involved in suppressing the anti-government opposition party protests that shook the country in the early months of 2014.

The U.S. on Monday imposed further visa restrictions on unnamed Venezuelan officials that it believes are responsible for human rights violations and corruption.

The South American Union, which is made up of 12 countries, including Venezuela, is based in the Ecuadorean capital of Quito.

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