UN regrets Venezuela's order to suspend its right body's operations

WASHINGTON

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday regretted Venezuela's order to suspend the rights body's operations.

"We regret this announcement and are evaluating the next steps. We continue to engage with the authorities and other stakeholders," OCHA spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

Her remarks came after Venezuela ordered the human rights body to suspend operations and gave its staff 72 hours to leave, accusing it of assisting "coup plotters and terrorist groups that permanently conspire against the country."

"Our guiding principle has been and remains the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Venezuela," Shamdasani added.

The UN office expressed last week a “deep concern” about the detention of human rights attorney Rocio San Miguel, which set off a wave of criticism inside and outside Venezuela.

San Miguel, an activist and expert on military issues, who was captured when she was preparing to leave Venezuela with her family, will be charged with “treason”, “terrorism” and “conspiracy” as part of an investigation into an alleged plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro, said Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab.