Maduro says the Trump administration wants him killed

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan socialist president Nicolas Maduro on Thursday accused the Trump government of attempting to kill him on the grounds that relations between the two nations were at odds. Asked about Maduro's comments, a spokesman for the National Security Council of the White House said: "The United States political preference for a peaceful and orderly return to democracy in Venezuela remains unchanged."

The Venezuelan opposition says that Maduro makes ridiculous accusations against enemies in order to escape his own incompetence.

Nearly 2 million Venezuelans have fled the oil-rich country since 2015 due to brutal shortages of food and medicine, hyperinflation and violent crime.

Washington imposed sanctions on Venezuela, denouncing Maduro as a dictator who broke human rights and caused an economic collapse.

The White House Wednesday accused the Maduro government of being involved in the death of a jailed Venezuelan politician, allegedly killed by the authorities, but that the opposition parties claimed to have murdered .

Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, said in a television broadcast on Thursday night that the United States had asked the government of neighboring Colombia to kill him.

"They ordered the White House to kill Maduro," said Maduro, accompanied by workers. He swore "that they will not touch even one of my hair".

Maduro did not explain his charges and provided no evidence. Venezuela's Ministry of Information did not respond to a request for additional information.

Maduro claims to be the victim of an "economic war" led by opponents backed by the United States. He denies any restriction of political freedoms, insisting that Washington-backed opposition leaders plotted assassination attempts and sought to overthrow him through violent street protests.