Fifteen countries ban travel for Venezuela's Maduro and associates

Fifteen nations have forbidden 29 Venezuelans - including the country's President Nicolas Maduro and his close associates - from visiting within their borders as part of diplomatic efforts to push him to step down.

A conference that took place on Tuesday in Colombia comprised delegates from Argentina, the United States, Brazil, Chile and Peru, all signatories of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR), an agreement that guarantees mutual security among members of the Organization of American States (OAS).

The group in September confirmed the identification, sanctioning and extradition of leading members of Venezuela's government whom it said associated with ventures related to terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking.

The people banned from travelling to the 15 countries included top Maduro associates such as Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and Diosdado Cabello, number two in the ruling Socialist Party (PSUV).

Maduro expelled the move and described it a strategy to distract attention from other subjects, including in Colombia under President Ivan Duque.

"The TIAR meeting has failed, nobody messes with Venezuela," Maduro said.

"Ivan Duque has an 80-per cent objection rating in Colombia and now he wants to disturb attention from the tremendous political, economic, and social crisis that Colombians are experiencing," he added.

Cabello also discarded the allegations and asked the countries to stay away from Venezuela.

"I reject the imperialist effort and the attempts of these North American associates to come and occupy themselves in Venezuela's domestic matters. Venezuela demands respect," Cabello said following a march in Caracas against the OAS meeting.