Guyana Blames Venezuela for Attack On Election Officials Ahead of Vote

GUYANA – Over in Guyana authorities say a boat carrying election officials and ballot boxes was shot at “from the Venezuelan shore” in the contested Essequibo region.

A joint statement from local police and defence forces said the incident happened on Sunday, ahead of the South American nation’s general election on Monday.

The patrol that had been escorting the officials “immediately returned fire” and no one was injured.

Venezuela has not commented on the incident, which comes amid a territorial dispute between the two nations over the oil-rich Essequibo region.