Maduro scraps UN visit over 'threats to his life'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he had scrapped his plan to take part in the UN General Assembly in New York to "protect my life" after purported threats on it.

Maduro, who has just made an official visit to China, said on Wednesday that on a layover in Vancouver he received intelligence on what he said were "two highly serious provocations" which prompted him to scrap his UN trip.

"When I got into Vancouver I evaluated the intelligence which we received from several sources. I decided then and there to continue back to Caracas and drop the New York trip to protect a key goal: safeguarding my physical integrity, protecting my life," Maduro told local media.

One of the alleged provocations "had been planned against my physical integrity" and another could have involved violence in New York, the leading face of Latin America's left charged.

Maduro also claimed the US "knew of these provocations" and that US President Barack Obama was going to allow them "to take place under his own nose." He said Foreign Minister Elias Juau was attending the summit in his place.

Venezuela is the region's closest ally of communist Cuba, which regularly has accused US conservatives of plotting against its leaders, leftist policies and governments.

Maduro earlier this month claimed the White House was plotting the "collapse" of his government next month by sabotaging food, electricity and fuel supplies.