Canada bans Venezuela expat voters from casting ballots

Venezuela says Canada is blocking its citizens living there from voting in the South American nation's weekend presidential election.

Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Wednesday called Canada's decision hostile and urged its government to reconsider.

President Nicolas Maduro seeks a second term in Sunday's election, which Canada, the U.S. and others reject as illegitimate.

Canadian officials confirmed their decision to The Associated Press.

They say Maduro is to blame for failing to allow his people to freely express their democratic rights, such as banning the leading opposition parties from participating.

Officials say more than 5,000 Venezuelans live in Canada.