U.S. says Venezuelan government interfering in new National Assembly

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro talks to supporters during a meeting outside Miraflores Palace in Caracas, December 15, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States expressed concern on Monday that the Venezuelan government is trying to obstruct the actions of the country's National Assembly, which convenes on Tuesday for its first session with an opposition majority in more than 16 years.

"We are concerned by the Venezuelan government's efforts to interfere with the newly elected National Assembly exercising its constitutionally mandated duties," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters, without giving details.