Venezuela government wants to use funds frozen in the U.S. to pay for vaccines

FILE PHOTO: People walk on a busy commercial street amid a spike in infections of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has led the government to extend lockdown measures, in Caracas, Venezuela April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's government wants funds frozen in the United States to be put toward paying for coronavirus vaccines and will keep working with the opposition to negotiate this payment, the head of the government-controlled legislature said on Tuesday.

Allies of opposition leader Juan Guaido have for months been in talks with state officials to buy vaccines through the COVAX program using funds frozen by the U.S. Treasury as part of sanctions against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.