Venezuela, US reach prisoner swap deal as tensions ease
The United States and Venezuela have reached a deal to swap 10 American prisoners for a jailed ally of President Nicolas Maduro, the latest sign of improving relations between Washington and Caracas.
The White House said on Wednesday that the deal secured the release of 10 US citizens from Venezuela, including six people who it said had been wrongfully detained.
As part of the agreement, US President Joe Biden granted clemency to Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman and Maduro ally who was being held in a Miami jail awaiting trial on a charge of money laundering.
Saab was released from custody and returned to Venezuela on Wednesday, the Venezuelan government said.
The deal comes weeks after the White House agreed to suspend some sanctions, following a pledge by Maduro to work towards free and fair elections next year.
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti reports.
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