Two Spanish, three US and one Czech citizen have been arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of links to alleged plans to destabilise the South American country, a top Venezuela official said.
The announcement is likely to deepen the country's already substantial tensions with Spain and the United States after Venezuela's disputed presidential election in July.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello in a press conference said two Spaniards were allegedly linked to Spain's secret service and planning the assassination of a mayor.
Spanish media reported that Spain's government denied this claim.
Mr Cabello also accused three US citizens and a Czech of involvement in terrorist acts, including alleged plans to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and other officials.
A US State Department spokesperson said that "any claims of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false."
"These groups seek to seize the country's wealth, and we as a government will respond firmly to any destabilisation attempt," Mr Cabello said. He added that about 400 rifles originating in the United States had been seized.
A Spanish foreign ministry source said it was asking Venezuela for more information.
"The Spanish embassy has sent a verbal note to the Venezuelan government asking for access to the detained citizens in order to verify their identities and their nationality and in order to know what they are accused of exactly," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Spanish nationals were detained while taking photographs in the town of Puerto Ayacucho, Mr Cabello said.
"These citizens have links - we know they will say no, that it is a lie - they have links with the centre," Mr Cabello said, referring to Spain's intelligence arm.
"Spain will decide what to do, if it is going to keep meddling in Venezuela's affairs," he added.
Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Spain this week for consultations and summoned the Spanish ambassador to appear at the foreign ministry after a Spanish minister accused Mr Maduro of running a "dictatorship," escalating diplomatic tensions following a disputed presidential election.
Venezuela was also angered by the decision of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to meet with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who went into exile in Spain last week after being threatened with arrest by Mr Maduro's regime.
Venezuela also has had fresh tensions with the United States, which recognised opposition candidate Mr Gonzalez Urrutia as the winner of the 28 July election.
