Venezuela said Thursday it had asked the International Criminal Court to investigate US sanctions against Nicolas Maduro's government as possible crimes against humanity. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said that in a "historic event" he had formally referred the issue to the prosecutor of the Hague-based tribunal as being a form of "economic warfare".

"We believe the unilateral coercive measures are crimes against humanity against the civilian population of Venezuela," Arreaza told reporters after meeting ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. He said he hoped it could be a test case for other US sanctions, for example by Caracas's allies Iran and Cuba.

"We have made this claim from our hearts and we hope it will be dealt with rapidly because it may even turn out to be case law to stop the craziness of the United States," he said.