Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with ministers in Caracas, Venezuela June 16, 2017. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS
Reuters: Venezuela's Maduro slams Twitter after accounts blocked
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday said Twitter was an "expression of fascism" after accounts linked to his government were suspended, accusing the U.S. company of persecuting his followers.
One of the Twitter accounts suspended belonged to Radio Miraflores, a station set up by Maduro that broadcasts from the presidential palace, including a salsa music program the president hosts.
"Twitter in Venezuela today deactivated thousands of people's accounts," Maduro said at televised rally. "Simply for being 'Chavistas,'" he said, using the term for followers of his predecessor, late socialist leader Hugo Chavez.
Chavez was a pioneer among politicians in the use of Twitter, gathering millions of followers and frequently announcing news on the platform. Even today, Chavez's 4 million followers beat Maduro's 3 million.
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Update: President Maduro condemns Twitter for closing accounts (BBC).
WNU Editor: The Venezuelan government has banned the opposition from using the public airways .... at least those who are not in jail .... and now they are upset that their Twitter accounts have been deactivated. I am not going to shed them a tear .... I am just wondering if Facebook is next.
