Venezuela government suspends talks with opposition over Saab extradition

FILE PHOTO: Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela's National Assembly, speaks to the media after voting in an election drill ahead of the November regional elections for governors and mayors, in Caracas, Venezuela October 10, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Venezuela on Saturday said it would suspend negotiations with the opposition that were set to resume this weekend, after Cape Verde extradited Colombian businessman Alex Saab, who is an envoy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to the United States on money laundering charges.

The announcement was made by Socialist party legislator Jorge Rodriguez, who heads the government's negotiating team. Rodriguez said the Venezuelan government would not attend the talks set to begin on Sunday.