Venezuela swaps prisoners with US in hint of thawing relations

Exchange of Maduro nephews for seven Americans is unusual gesture of goodwill from socialist president but Washington denies any change in policy

Venezuela has freed seven imprisoned Americans in exchange for the US releasing two nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife who had been jailed for years on narcotics convictions.

The swap of the Americans, including five oil executives held for nearly five years, follows months of back-channel diplomacy by senior US officials - secretive talks with a major oil producer that took on greater urgency after sanctions on Russia put pressure on global energy prices.