Venezuela delays demonetisation of 100 bolivar notes amid rioting, protests

Caracas

WITH protests rocking his unpopular government, embattled President Nicolas Maduro delayed until Jan 2 taking Venezuela's highest-denomination bill out of circulation.

The 100 bolivar (S$14.5) bills would temporarily remain legal tender, Mr Maduro said on Saturday, but the borders with Colombia and Brazil will remain closed to hit what he claims are "mafias" hoarding Venezuelan cash abroad in a US-backed plot to destabilise the country.