The United States announces a reward of $25 million for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

The US has announced a $25 million (£20.4 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term.

The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by counter-accusations from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders.

Rewards have also been offered for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. A new reward of up to $15 million has also been offered to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.

The UK also issued sanctions on 15 senior Venezuelan officials, including judges, members of the security forces and military officials.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the people sanctioned were responsible for “undermining democracy, the rule of law and human rights abuses”.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy went on to describe Maduro’s regime as “fraudulent.”

The European Union also said on Friday that it was extending “restrictive measures” against Venezuela due to the “lack of progress… leading to the restoration of democracy and the rule of law.” The European Union also imposed sanctions on 15 other Venezuelan officials.

Maduro and his government have repeatedly denounced many of the allegations made by Western countries and opposition leaders. He has not yet commented on the latest set of sanctions against him.

President Maduro was sworn in before parliament on Friday, pledging that his third six-year term would be a “period of peace.”

He said, “The new presidential period will be a period of peace, prosperity, equality, and a new democracy.”

He added: “I swear on history, I swear on my life, and I will fulfill it.”

The results of the July 28 elections were widely rejected by the international community, including Brazil, Colombia, and some of Venezuela’s leftist neighbors.

The inauguration itself was tightly controlled. Most accredited Venezuelan media were not allowed in and foreign journalists were not allowed into the country.

Maduro still has a few allies, including Iran, China and Russia, but has become increasingly isolated on the world stage.

The Cuban and Nicaraguan presidents were the only leaders to attend the inauguration ceremony.

The 62-year-old president was declared the winner of the presidential elections that took place last July, but the opposition and many countries, including the United States, rejected the result and recognized the exiled opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimate elected president.

Gonzalez fled Venezuela in September and is living in Spain, but this month he went on a tour of the Americas to rally international support.

Maduro’s government issued an arrest warrant for him, and offered a reward of $100,000 (£81,755) for information leading to his arrest.

This comes as Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), closely allied with the government, declared Maduro the winner of July’s presidential elections.

Machado, who replaced Gonzalez on the ballot after she was barred from running herself, was also targeted. She went into hiding shortly after the disputed election and was last seen in public in August before Thursday’s march.

Additional reporting by Vanessa Silva.