Maduro welcomes papal interest in Venezuela mediation

Caracas (AFP) – President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday welcomed an offer by Pope Francis for Vatican mediation in crisis-torn Venezuela but opposition leaders rebuffed the overture.
The pope’s call for a “negotiated solution” came in response to waves of protests by Venezuelans demanding new elections to pull the country out of a downward spiral.
At least 28 people have died in protests since they began April, and hundreds have been arrested.
“Dramatic news on the wors