Lima, Apr 15 (AFP) The United States and more than a dozen Latin American countries today warned Venezuela its presidential election next month would be seen as illegitimate by the region unless it restored democratic standards.

The May 20 poll would be "void of legitimacy and credibility" if it went ahead under current conditions, the nations said in a joint declaration released at a Summit of the Americas in Peru.

Venezuela's opposition says President Nicolas Maduro has prepared a rigged snap election to deliver him a new mandate and tighten his hold over his economically devastated country.

US Vice President Mike Pence, representing America at the summit, said the election was a "sham." "The United States is prepared to continue to bring all pressure to bear, working with our allies," to restore democracy in Venezuela, he told reporters.

The joint statement was signed by the US and the 16-nation Lima Group which counts Latin America's biggest economies, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Canada is also part of the group.

The statement demanded "necessary guarantees" for the Venezuelan poll to be recognised: a fair and transparent electoral process; the release of political prisoners; and the participation of the opposition, which has been largely excluded. (AFP) CK

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)