U.S. slaps additional sanctions on Venezuela oil companies, vessels

The U.S. has added two oil-sector companies and 34 vessels to a sanctions list aimed at forcing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down.

A Treasury Department announcement saidthe companies and vessels are being used to ship fuel to Cuba or in other aspects of the oil industry and help support the Maduro government.

The U.S. and about 50 other countries including Canada say Maduro's re-election last year was not legitimate and have recognized the head of the National Assembly as the interim president of Venezuela.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry in January to cut off the government's most important source of revenue.

The designation of the companies and ships Friday bars U.S. citizens or entities from any financial transactions involving them.