A plane carrying a number of former Latin American presidents hoping to observe Venezuela's anticipated elections this weekend was not allowed to take off from Tocumen airport in Panama, the country's President Jose Raul Mulino said on Friday.

The plane carrying former Panamanian president Mireya Moscoso and other ex-presidents was denied permission to "take off from Tocumen as long as they remain on board," Mulino said on social media.

This was due to "the blockade of Venezuelan airspace," he wrote.

The United States warned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro against interfering with the electoral process and said it is prepared to "recalibrate" sanctions pending the outcome of the vote.

What do we know about the incident?

Former presidents Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Costa Rica, Jorge Quiroga of Bolivia and Vicente Fox of Mexico were due to fly together with Moscoso to Venezuela. The four former leaders are all strong critics of Maduro's government.

Fox shared videos on X from inside the plane. He wrote: "Venezuela we are with you, no matter what happens."

Panama's Foreign Ministry summoned the Venezuelan representative for an explanation. 

Sunday's presidential elections in Venezuela pit the incumbent, President Maduro, against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

Maduro is seeking a third term in office but is currently lagging behind Urrutia in polls. However, after a decade in office Maduro controls almost all branches of state power, including the armed forces and the electoral council. 

Urrutia himself is a former diplomat and belongs to a political alliance made up of civil society, trade unions, retired military personnel, and former parliamentarians.

Washington to evaluate sanctions

The United States said on Friday it would put Maduro on notice if he claims victory without providing proof.

A senior, unnamed US official said it was "deeply concerning" that Maduro's government limited the number of international observers.

"The United States is prepared to calibrate our sanctions policy vis-a-vis events as they may unfold in Venezuela," the Reuters news agency quoted the official as saying.

"As we look at the post-electoral period, we will continue to evaluate and update our sanctions policy as required based on our foreign policy goals." 

zc, rmt/cs (AFP, Reuters)