Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's right-hand man, Diosdado Cabello, joins protesters against the US sanctions. — AFP Photo

CARACAS — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed Washington on Wednesday in cancelling scheduled talks with the political opposition, as his embattle regime struggles under the weight of US sanctions.

The oil-rich leftist regime has been hurt especially hard since US President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the US and barred transactions with its authorities.

Maduro "has decided to not send the Venezuelan delegation" for talks on Thursday and Friday mediated by Norway in Barbados with representatives of opposition leader Juan Guaido, a government statement read.

Maduro attributed the cancellation to "the grave and brutal aggression" being "continuously... carried out by the Trump administration against Venezuela, which includes the illegal blocking of our economic, commercial and financial activities," the statement read.

The country has been mired in a political impasse since January when Guaido, speaker of the National Assembly, proclaimed himself acting president. 

In the talks Guaido has called for new elections, while Maduro, who retains support from Venezuela's military, is calling for a "democratic cohabitation" and refuses to leave office.

In Caracas, thousands of government supporters dressed in red and waving Venezuelan flags marched against the US sanctions.

China responded to the sanctions by telling the US to stop "bullying" other countries. — AFP