Venezuela 'revokes accreditation and visas' of CNN journalists

 
Mr Maduro said many international networks had created a false idea that Venezuela is facing civil war

The American news network, CNN, says Venezuela has revoked the accreditation of its Caracas-based reporter, Osmary Hernandez.

Two journalists who had been sent to Venezuela to cover the current crisis had their working permits cancelled.

President Nicolas Maduro had vowed to expel CNN unless it "rectified" its coverage of recent opposition marches.


Eight people have been killed in the protests, according to the government.
Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz said 137 people had been injured in the current series of protests, which began earlier this month.

The opposition leader who called for the marches, Leopoldo Lopez, was detained on Tuesday during a protest in Caracas.

The government accused him of inciting violence as part of a right-wing coup plot.
CNN is one of several media organisations complaining that their freedom of expression had been restricted by the Venezuelan government.

Last week, the government removed Colombian TV news channel NTN24 from channels offered by Venezuelan cable operators.
'War propaganda'
 
On Thursday, during a live broadcast, Mr Maduro threatened to "take action" against CNN unless it ceased what he described as "hostile coverage" of events in Venezuela.

"Enough war propaganda, I won't accept war propaganda against Venezuela. If they don't rectify themselves, out of Venezuela, CNN, out," he said.
"They want to say to the world that there's a civil war in Venezuela."

 

Journalists took to the streets earlier this month to complain about the shortage of printing paper

CNN says Venezuelan officials asked the two journalists who had their work permits cancelled - Angela Janiot and Rafael Romo - when they would leave the country.

In a statement, the network said it was still negotiating with the authorities.
"We hope the government reconsiders its decision. Meanwhile, we will carry on covering events in Venezuela in a fair, accurate and balanced manner," read the statement.

On Sunday, Mr Maduro ordered the expulsion of three US diplomats. He accused them of meeting student leaders to conspire against his government.
The three diplomats deny the allegations.
Chavez ally
 
A former union leader and close ally of the late president, Hugo Chavez, Mr Maduro was elected by a narrow margin last April.
Mr Chavez died in March, after more than 14 years in office.
The opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, accused the government of electoral fraud.

Political divisions have deepened since the election, and the economy has taken a downturn, with high inflation and consumers struggling to find many staples on supermarket shelves.
Mr Maduro has accused "saboteurs" and the country's business elite of working to destabilise his government.

The opposition blames the government's misguided left-wing economic policies and corruption for the crisis.
Another opposition march - "against violence" - has been called for Saturday.