Seven Venezuelan officials targeted by US

Opposition protests have continued amid an economic crisis in the country

The US has targeted at least seven Venezuelan officials with sanctions for alleged human rights violations.

Those named, including the head of police, will have assets frozen and be blocked from doing business with American firms or travelling to the US.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro later appeared on TV with the seven, hailing them as "heroes".

He appointed one of them, national intelligence chief Gustavo Gonzalez, interior minister.

President Maduro went on to say that he would ask parliament for special powers by means of a special enabling law to allow him to "preserve peace".

Diplomatic cuts

Tensions between the US and Venezuela have continued to rise.

Last week, Venezuela gave the US two weeks to significantly cut its diplomatic mission in the country.

In the latest episode on Monday, the White House called on Venezuela to release all political prisoners, including "dozens of students" and warned against blaming Washington for its problems.

The officials sanctions include several officials from President Maduro's security and defence apparatus

Spokesman Josh Earnest said the Venezuelan government had tried to distract from "its own actions by blaming the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela".

The White House statement also said it was "deeply concerned" by the Venezuelan government's efforts to intimidate political opponents.

Analysis - Thomas Sparrow, BBC Mundo, Washington

As well as the actual sanctions against officials, what seems to be generating a lot of interest in Latin America is the fact that President Obama has declared a "national emergency" with regards to Venezuela.

In an executive order describing the sanctions, the US government says the situation in that South American country poses an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States".

This strong language may be an indication that the US is becoming increasingly worried about the political and economic instability in Venezuela and how it could potentially affect the region more generally.

The US is particularly troubled by its diplomatic row with Caracas at a time when Washington has been trying to start a new relationship with Cuba and foster deeper ties with Latin America.

But the White House has tried to play down the effect of these words by saying that they are the "standard language" that it has used when it has decided to implement sanction programmes in 20 to 30 countries.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez told reporters that her country will insist on a relationship with the US that is "based on respect and sovereign equality".

The South American country was hit by major protests last year in which dozens were killed and more than 3,000 arrested in a wave of anti-government sentiment.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has led protests

Polls suggest support for President Maduro has dropped sharply amid an economic crisis marked by shortages and high inflation.

As well as Mr Gonzalez, the officials sanctioned by the US include the director of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Police.

The White House argues the officials were instrumental in human rights violations, persecution of political opponents and significant public corruption.

Another of the seven named is Antonio Jose Benavides Torres, the former director Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard, whom the US said "used force against peaceful protestors and journalists, including severe physical violence, sexual assault, and firearms".