EU slaps sanctions on 7 more in Venezuela over rights abuses

The European Union on Friday slapped sanctions on seven members of Venezuela's security and intelligence services on suspicion that they are involved in torture and other abuses, as the UN's top rights body set up a fact-finding missions to look into human rights violations in the country.

EU headquarters said Friday that four of the seven, who face asset freezes and travel bans, are linked to the death of Capt Rafael Acosta Arvalo, a Venezuelan navy officer allegedly tortured in state custody.

The move means 25 people are now subject to EU sanctions over the crisis in Venezuela.

"The people of Venezuela continue to face a dramatic situation.

The regional impact of the crisis is unprecedented, with severe risks for regional stability," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

She said the EU stands ready to broaden the sanctions to encourage a political transition and presidential elections, but that the measures can be dialled down if progress is made.

In Geneva, the Human Rights Council voted 19-7 with 21 abstentions for the resolution to create a one-year mission to investigate "extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment" in Venezuela over the past five years.

In July, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet issued a report saying Venezuela's government registered nearly 5,300 killings during security operations last year linked to "resistance to authority."