United States: Access to US detainee should be granted

Washington informed that it had not received any official notification from the Venezuelan Government on the arrest of a US alleged mercenary. US Department of State said that if the arrest is confirmed, Venezuela then must comply with the provisions set forth in the Vienna Convention.

The US Government informed on Monday that it had not received any official notice from Venezuelan authorities confirming the arrest a US citizen of whom Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said to be a former marine.

The statement was issued by Victoria Nuland, a US official from the US Department of State, reported AFP.

Information about the detainee trying to enter Venezuela from Colombia was released by President Chávez on Thursday. The identity of the "mercenary," as Chávez referred to the detainee, has not been released yet.