NEW YORK, Dec 24 — Washington is subjecting Caracas to the “greatest extortion” in its history, Venezuela’s envoy to the United Nations said yesterday, after the United States announced a blockade of sanctioned oil vessels sailing to and from the country.

“We are in the presence of a power that acts outside of international law, demanding that Venezuelans vacate our country and hand it over,” Samuel Moncada told the UN Security Council. — AFP