CARACAS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday rejected the comments by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who supported the EU for passing sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials.

"A thousand times no, as Venezuela is a sovereign, free country and it belongs to the Venezuelans," said Maduro at a speech in Caracas in front of around 10,000 students.

Rajoy had said that he found the sanctions announced on Jan. 22 "well deserved" and added that it was "very sensible and reasonable for the EU to take care of this issue."

The seven include former president of the national assembly, Diosdado Cabello, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol and the chief justice of the supreme court, Maikel Moreno.

"What does Mariano Rajoy want? To govern our country? I tell them no?" said Maduro, whose government on Thursday expelled the Spanish ambassador, Jesus Silva Fernandez, for "constant aggressions."

The Venezuelan administration also recalled its own ambassador from Madrid, Mario Isea, after Spain declared him "persona non grata" on Friday.

In his speech, Maduro called on the youngsters to reject "foreign aggressions" against Venezuela.