Venezuela acknowledged Sunday an opposition figure died while in custody, as the Trump administration slammed Caracas as "vile" and the South American country's army swore in thousands of new soldiers amid mounting US military pressure.

Leftist President Nicolas Maduro has called for stepped-up military recruitment after the United States deployed a fleet of warships and the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.

Washington has accused Maduro of leading the alleged "Cartel of the Suns," which it declared a terrorist organization last month.

Under President Donald Trump, US forces have carried out deadly strikes on more than 20 alleged drug-smuggling vessels, killing at least 87 people.

But the passing of former opposition gove

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