Report says US was planning coup with rebels in Venezuela

WASHINGTON - Several US media outlets reported on Saturday that the Trump administration has talked secretly with rebellious Venezuelan military officers several times to discuss their plans to stage a coup in the South American country.

According to a report by The New York Times, the clandestine meetings were held last year and this year in other countries to discuss the military officers' plans to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

They reportedly asked the attending US diplomat to supply them with encrypted radios, so as to "to communicate securely".