Venezuela To Ask UK Gov’t To Return Frozen Gold Reserves – Acting President

MEXICO CITY, July 9 (NNN-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez has said that she will ask the United Kingdom (UK) government to return Venezuelan gold reserves frozen at the Bank of England and will also request the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release funds to help with the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck the Latin American country, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

“I have decided to send a letter, including to the King of England, requesting the release of the gold held at the Bank of England. This gold belongs to our people, and it must be used to address the terrible and tragic consequences of this double earthquake,” Rodriguez said on Wednesday.

Caracas also intends to ask the IMF to provide Venezuela with access to funds to assist victims and rebuild damaged infrastructure, she added.

Thirty-one tonnes of Venezuelan gold, worth several billion US dollars, are frozen in the Bank of England's vaults due to sanctions.

The decision to store part of the country's gold reserves in the UK was made by former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

According to the latest data from Venezuelan authorities, 3,811 people died in the two earthquakes on June 24, and more than 16,700 were injured.

A total of 6,462 people have been rescued from the rubble.

-- NNN-BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI