State Department warns 'leave Venezuela now' as militias hunt US citizens

 Venezuelan militias are hunting for US Citizens, and any Americans should leave the country immediately, the US State Department has warned. The Government body said: "Venezuela: The security situation in Venezuela remains fluid. As international flights have resumed, US citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately. Before departure, US citizens should take precautions and be aware of their surroundings.

"There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of US citizenship or support for the United States. Remain vigilant and exercise caution when travelling by road. Monitor airlines' communications and websites for updated information.

"Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level - Level 4: Do Not Travel - due to severe risks to Americans, including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure."

The news came after US President Donald Trump promised oil executives "total safety" in the country, days after a stunning raid by US special forces saw Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, captured and transported to the US, where he awaits trial along with his wife on narcoterrorism charges.

On Friday, the United States and Venezuela announced that they are exploring the possibility of restoring relations, as a Trump administration delegation visited the South American nation.

The visit marks a major step toward reestablishing diplomatic ties between the historically adversarial governments. In a brazen intervention last weekend, the US military captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last weekend from his compound in Caracas and flew him to New York to face federal charges of drug-trafficking.

A small team of US diplomats and a security detail travelled to Venezuela to make a preliminary assessment about the potential reopening of the US Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.

Venezuela's Government on Friday said it plans to send a delegation to the US, but it did not say when. Any delegation from the country travelling to the US will likely require sanctions to be waived by the Treasury Department.