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TOLUCA, Mexico (AP) - President Barack Obama says the U.S. strongly condemns violence taking place in Venezuela and Ukraine.
Obama is speaking at a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. He says the violence in both Venezuela and Ukraine is unacceptable.
Obama says rather than trying to distract from protests by making false accusations against U.S. diplomats, Venezuela's government should address the people's legitimate grievances. He's calling on Venezuela to release detained protesters.
In Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych (yah-noo-KOH'-vich) and protest leaders agreed to a truce Wednesday. Obama says if implemented, the truce could provide space for the sides to resolve disagreements peacefully. He's urging Ukraine's military to show restraint and for the government to withdraw riot police.
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