Caracas - 14 February 2019

1. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sitting down for an exclusive interview with The Associated Press

2. Maduro sitting during interview

3. Wide of interview

4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela:

"The great majority of the country, according to the polls, are very aware of the economic war that has been waged against the country. Today, there is more awareness due to the economic war overtly waged by President Donald Trump against Venezuela, the sanctions against the oil company PDVSA, the expropriation of our oil company in the United States, CITGO, restrictions on trade. Notice what is happening, Ian, whether we have the support of the majority or not, beyond this, I am going to respond to your question, today there is a great understanding in the country of the damage that was done by the sanctions and the economic, financial persecution, that the government of United States has waged against Venezuela."

5. Various of Maduro during interview

6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela:

"Pressure is being put on Venezuela so as not to bring shipments of medicine, to try to stop our purchases of food, of raw materials. (There is) direct pressure from the White House, so that no bank account of ours works, and if I were to buy wheat or corn, which are necessary for the economy to function, and to satisfy our people, they simply freeze our accounts. They have frozen billions of dollars for buying medicine."

7. Maduro holding small copy of Venezuelan constitution

8. Wide of interview

9. Maduro shaking hands with Ian Phillips, AP Vice President of International News

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday blamed the economic sanctions imposed by the United States against Venezuela for the severe food and medicine shortages in the country.

"Today, there is more awareness due to the economic war overtly waged by President Donald Trump against Venezuela, the sanctions against the oil company PDVSA, the expropriation of our oil company in the United States, CITGO, restrictions on trade," Maduro said during an interview with The Associated Press in Caracas.

"They have frozen billions of dollars for buying medicine."

The hand-picked successor to the late Hugo Chavez has been called a dictator by his critics and is blamed for driving the oil-rich economy into the ground.

Thursday's interview comes amid mounting pressure by the U.S. administration and dozens of nations for him to leave power.

Maduro accuses the U.S. of leading an economic war to undermine his socialist vision and launching a coup aimed at installing a puppet government under opposition leader Juan Guaido.