Maduro rejects US allegations on drugs

CARACAS — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rejected US allegations of being a drug trafficker and asked US President Donald Trump for dialogue, according to a letter released on Sunday by Caracas, as tensions soar between the two countries.

The letter addressed to Trump is dated Sept 6 and was sent days after the United States deployed warships off the coast of Venezuela and carried out the first of several attacks on Venezuela-based boats. Washington claimed the boats were carrying drugs.

The first attack left 11 people dead with two more strikes following later.