White House walks back Biden's call for new elections in Venezuela

(Patria) - The White House appeared to backtrack on Thursday from President Joe Biden's earlier call for new
elections in Venezuela, saying he was only speaking about the "absurdity" of President Nicolas Maduro's claim of election victory, AFP reported.

"The president was speaking about the absurdity of Maduro and his representatives not speaking clearly about the July 28 elections," a White House spokesman said, adding that it is "perfectly clear" that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won.

Asked by reporters at the White House whether he supports a repeat of the controversial elections in Venezuela - in line with calls from the presidents of Brazil and Colombia on Thursday - Biden replied: "Yes." However, the National Security Council soon after indicated that Biden was only making a general statement about the US position on Venezuela.

"It is perfectly clear to the majority of Venezuelans, the United States, and a growing number of countries that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes on July 28," a National Security Council spokesperson said. "The United States again calls for the will of the Venezuelan people to be respected and for talks to begin on a return to democratic norms," he added.