Venezuelan opposition up in arms over reports US wants big stake in oil and gas

Critics call move to gain long-term access to country's massive energy reserves predatory' and unconstitutional'

Reports that the US is preparing to claim a big stake in Venezuela's massive energy reserves have sparked an outcry, with critics describing the move as predatory" and a rapacious" land grab.

Several media outlets this week reported that the Trump administration - which abducted Venezuela's authoritarian president, Nicolas Maduro, in January and has steered the South American country ever since - hopes to secure long-term access to its oil and gasfields.