PRESIDENT Barack Obama came under heavy pressure today to impose sanctions against Venezuelan government officials after both houses of Congress backed legislation.

The Senate passed a Bill on Monday evening and the House of Representatives approved the measure by voice vote on Wednesday evening.

The draft law would authorise sanctions to freeze the assets and ban visas of individuals accused of perpetrating acts of violence or violating the human rights of those opposing Venezuela’s socialist government.

The US State Department imposed a travel ban on Venezuelan officials accused of abuses during a months-long opposition-led violent campaign in the winter and spring that left dozens of people dead.

Democrat Senator Robert Menendez, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee, said: “When this Bill becomes law, a spotlight will shine on Venezuela’s abusers and target individuals responsible for human rights violations by applying asset freezes and visa bans.”

Venezuela’s national assembly president Diosdado Cabello slammed the US interference, saying: “We reject sanctions as arbitrary and immoral, because no-one has the right to impose sanctions on anyone else in the world.”

President Nicolas Maduro made no immediate comment, having warned on Tuesday that sanctions would only worsen bilateral relations.

“Desperate as they are, they want to challenge Venezuela with sanctions and threats. I think that if President Obama imposes the insanity of sanctions, things are going to turn out very badly for them,” he said.