Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of supporting coup attempts against his government, and the U.S. has fired back to dismiss the allegations.

Maduro spoke to Venezuelans during a national address to comment on an alleged failed coup attempt, which included Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, who is considered as one of the country's top opposition figures. Ledezma was arrested on Thursday night, which resulted in protests against his arrest. Nongovernmental organizations including Human Rights Watch have called for Ledezma's release while hundreds assembled in Venezuela's capital to protest.

During his address, Maduro said the U.S. was involved in the coup efforts.

"The allegations made by the Venezuelan government that the United States is involved in coup plotting and destabilization are baseless and false," U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said. "The United States does not support political transitions by non-constitutional means."

Psaki acknowledged the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which the U.S. supports and thus allows governmental changes to be conducted through "democratic, constitutional, peaceful and in accordance with the rule of law." Psaki said the U.S. is not promoting the unrest in Venezuela or undermining the country's economy and government. She noted the U.S. is still Venezuela's largest trading partner but said the South American country's economic an political problems are the results of Maduro's government policies.

"We regret that the Venezuelan government continues to blame the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela. The Venezuelan government needs to deal with the grave situation it faces. Despite the difficulties in our official relationship, the United States remains committed to maintaining our strong and lasting ties with the people of Venezuela," Psaki said.

The U.S. State Department spokesperson also called for Venezuela's government to consider the release of Leopoldo Lopez and other individuals who have held opposing views to Maduro.

"Everyday they are looking to hurt our country. ... But they have not stopped us. They will never stop us," Maduro said during his address.

In early February, the U.S. State Department issued visa restrictions on alleged Venezuelan human rights violators. Using the Immigration and National Act, the visa restrictions was placed on individuals of the current and former Venezuelan government. In a statement about the visa restrictions, Psaki said the State Department will not publicly identify the people affected by the visa restrictions. Maduro, as expected, criticized the U.S. for their actions.

Maduro said, "We can't let an empire that has been eyeing all of us pretend or think it has the right to sanction the country of [former Venezuelan political leader Simon] Bolivar."

Additionally, Maduro said he will personally write a letter to President Barack Obama about the visa restrictions, which also impacts immediate family members of the alleged human rights violators.

Maduro had previously accused the U.S., specifically Vice President Joe Biden, of planning an overthrow of the Venezuelan government. Maduro said Caribbean leaders told him about Biden speaking about a coup in Caracas while the leaders attended the Caribbean Energy Security Summit in Washington, D.C., in late January. Psaki said Maduro's accusations are "baseless and false"

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