Venezuela dialogue could open way for international help: U.S. diplomat

By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition could provide a platform from which they could request help from the international community, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Shannon said on Friday. Shannon held talks with Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolas Maduro and opposition figures, in Caracas this week amid a punishing economic crisis in the South American nation. During the visit, Shannon also met with former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.