Panama offers Maduro temporary asylum amid Venezuelan election crisis

The Panamanian president on Friday offered Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro political asylum to ensure the peaceful transition of power in Venezuela.

President José Raúl Mulino told CNN he sent the offer through Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, the Miami Herald reported.

"If that is the contribution, the sacrifice that Panama has to make, offering our land so that this man and his family can leave Venezuela, Panama would do it," Mulino said of the asylum offer.

"If Panama is the transit country for a permanent exile of Maduro and his clan, then we would do it with the necessary security," Mulino added.

The offer came amid intense negotiations between the United States, Venezuela, and other countries to resolve the post-election crisis in Venezuela.

Maduro's government claims he won the July 28 presidential race, but strong evidence suggests he lost by a considerable margin to opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

Mulino, who reported having no contact with Maduro, sent the message via Lula, who is reportedly "close" to Maduro.

Mulino emphasized the offer was for temporary asylum only.

"I don’t think he can stay in Panama. That would cost me a lot to sell it to the public," Mulino said.