Caracas, November 1 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has held a meeting with U.S. diplomat Tom Shannon in the capital, Caracas.  The meeting followed the recent initiation of talks between the government and the opposition in an effort to end the country's political and economic crisis. 

According to a statement by the U.S. State Department, Shannon would stay in the South American country until November 2nd to -- quote -- "underscore our support for the ongoing dialogue process, and our interest in the well-being of the Venezuelan people." 

The State Department official was shown on Venezuelan television while shaking hands with Maduro and speaking with other ruling Socialist Party officials in the Miraflores presidential palace. 

International mediators, including Vatican envoy Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, as well as others from Spain, Panama and the Dominican Republic were also attending the talks between the government and the opposition.  

Maduro has previously accused the opposition of having launched a U.S.-backed economic war against the oil-reach country in an attempt to trigger a coup d'état.  Last year, Shannon had tried to put an end to diplomatic fighting between the two states, but negotiations failed to get through.