Lavrov, Pompeo discuss Venezuela, Skripal in phone talk

By Elena Teslova</p> <p>MOSCOW (AA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo against interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs, including military action, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.</p> <p>The two had a telephone conversation in which Lavrov expressed readiness to discuss the situation &quot;in the framework of the UN Charter.”</p> <p>Political tensions are high in the Latin American country ever since opposition leader Guaido declared himself acting president late last month in a move supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.</p> <p>Russia, Turkey, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have put their weight behind President Nicolas Maduro.</p> <p>Turing to Pompeo's intention to place additional sanctions against Russia for a nerve agent attack in the U.K., Lavrov stressed that ''this unjustified step by Washington will only aggravate the situation in bilateral relations and the atmosphere on the world stage,&quot; the statement said.</p> <p>Ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Salisbury last March.</p> <p>British authorities blamed Russia for being behind the attempted murder, a charge Moscow denies.</p> <p>U.K. expelled 23 Russian diplomats — and 121 diplomats were expelled worldwide as a diplomatic crisis brewed.</p> <p>