Mexico to host Venezuela talks: president

Mexico will host talks between the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the political opposition, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has told reporters, the first time a Mexican official has confirmed the negotiations.

"What we're looking for is that there's dialogue and agreements between the parties," Lopez Obrador said, declining to provide more details.

"Norway has proposed that these negotiations take place in Mexico and we have agreed," he said on Thursday.

"Hopefully they will reach an agreement."

Two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Wednesday that the talks would likely begin on August 13.

It was not clear where in Mexico the talks would be held.

Maduro, who has overseen an economic collapse in the once-prosperous South American country, has said he is willing to negotiate with opposition leader Juan Guaido.

But Maduro has insisted that the agenda must focus on lifting US sanctions, most of which were created by former US president Donald Trump two years ago in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to force the socialist president from power.

Guaido has said the opposition wants to use the talks to push for guarantees of free and fair elections, following broad criticism that past elections have been stacked in favour of the ruling socialists.

Previous talks between the two sides have not produced significant results.

with DPA