Venezuela denounces alleged U.S. piracy before UN Security Council

CARACAS, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan government on Tuesday filed a formal complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing the United States of a "serious act involving the use of force, kidnapping and piracy" in international waters in the Caribbean.

The complaint, submitted by Venezuela's permanent representative to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, was made public by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.

According to the document, U.S. military forces on Dec. 10 boarded a privately owned vessel engaged in "lawful international trade," transporting 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil.

Venezuela denounced the incident as an act of "state piracy," asserting that it violated international law and had no recent precedent on the high seas.

The incident, which Caracas described as a sustained U.S. policy of coercion marked by unilateral sanctions and unlawful pressure, constituted a direct violation of freedom of navigation and international trade, it said.

"There is no authorization from the Security Council that could justify the violent boarding, the kidnapping of the crew, or the theft of the cargo," the Venezuelan government said.

Caracas demanded the immediate release of the crew, the return of the seized oil, and an end to U.S. interference in the lawful trade of Venezuelan crude. It also urged the Security Council to "preserve the safety of navigation and international trade." ■