UN court bars Venezuela from altering Guyana’s control over disputed territory

By MIKE CORDER and REGINA GARCIA CANO
Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The U.N. top court has ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana’s control over a disputed territory, but did not specifically ban Venezuela from holding its planned referendum Sunday on the territory’s future. Guyana had asked the International Court of Justice to order a halt to the vote, saying it was aimed at paving the way for Venezuela to annex the disputed Essequibo region, which makes up some two-thirds of Guyana. Both countries interpreted Friday’s ruling as largely backing their own positions on the territory. The court order doesn’t explicitly mention the referendum, but orders Venezuela to refrain from any action that alters what “currently prevails” in Essequibo.