THE US is pressing India to stop buying Venezuelan oil as its attempted coup against the democratically elected government of Nicolas Maduro appears to flag.

US special envoy to Venezuela Elliot Abrams is seeking to cut off access to a crucial market for the country’s oil as Washington has increased sanctions in a bid to place severe financial restrictions on the Bolivarian government.

As support for usurper Juan Guiado, the leader of the defunct National Assembly who declared himself interim president, wanes both inside and outside the country, the US is looking at other measures to increase pressure on Mr Maduro.