VENEZUELA hit back last night after the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a probe and the European Parliament voted for new sanctions.

Venezuelan security officials may soon have the dubious distinction of being the first non-Africans to face proceedings at the court in The Hague following yesterday’s announcement by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

A Venezuelan Foreign Ministry statement condemned the decision, saying it had come as a surprise with no previous official communication from Ms Bensouda.