A £1bn Army contract to replace its Apache attack helicopters has been delayed due to lobbying by the firm AgustaWestland, Whitehall insiders say.

The BBC has learned the MoD wants to buy a replacement from US firm Boeing, which is offering a cheaper deal for a joint order with other countries.
But the decision has been delayed until 2016, with the UK firm asking to be allowed to make a new bid for the work.
The delay also risks adding to the cost of running the existing Apache fleet.
The dilemma of giving work to a British firm or buying a much cheaper option is much like the one that occurred back in 1995 when the current generation of attack helicopters was bought.
Then the government opted for a contract with Westland that involved fitting the basic American helicopter with new engines, defensive aids and communications, taking its price from around £20m each to £44m per aircraft.
Lt Gen Gary Coward, head of the Joint Helicopter Command from 2005 to 2008, told Newsnight that the earlier Westland deal "cost an awful lot of time and an awful lot of money".
Newsnight understands that Boeing's current offer to the British government is, once again, around £20m per helicopter, which presents the MoD with an opportunity almost unique in defence procurement history, to buy a new weapon for a fraction of the price of the one it is replacing.
Lt Gen Coward says "there really is no choice" now and that Boeing's offer "is the only sensible option".
Yet, although the MoD made its recommendation to No 10 in October last year, stating a preference for the Boeing option, the order has been held up following representations to Downing Street by AgustaWestland.
Newsnight has been told that the order cannot go ahead until "after the election" because of the political sensitivities of opting for an off-the-shelf buy from Boeing.
Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon, who now runs AgustaWestland's international business division, has been part of the lobbying effort.
The delays could be very expensive. American suppliers will its support of the equipment carried in the Army's current generation of WAH-64 Apaches in 2017, adding greatly to the costs of maintaining the existing fleet.
And Boeing's offer price to the UK is conditional on it joining an imminent, much larger, order for the US Army.
Even if an order were placed immediately after the election, the aircraft would not enter service before 2020. The Army fears a "capability gap" and rising costs as support for the existing plane is switched off from 2017 onwards.
The BBC understands that AgustaWestland has persuaded the government that it should be allowed to make a new bid for the business.
Many in the MoD fear that will provide an opportunity for "gold plating", increasing the value of the work to the Yeovil-based manufacturer.
Signing up for Boeing's project, called Block III Apache AH-64E - a batch of 240 machines to be supplied to the US and other armies - offers the advantage of being part of a large, and therefore cheaper, deal.
However, giving Boeing the contract would leave AgustaWestland short of work. Backers of the firm argue that even the off-the-shelf Boeing helicopter would need some modification, for example to its communications equipment, to make it interoperable with British forces.
The MoD is so keen on the Boeing option that it has already discussed with the Pentagon ways in which the Block III Apache order book might be kept open a little longer so that the UK can join and gain from the likely savings of being part of a bulk order.
The MoD said in a statement: "The assessment phase of the Attack Helicopter Capability Sustainment Programme, which will supply 50 latest-generation Apache helicopters to the UK, is ongoing.
"This phase includes establishing best value for money for the taxpayer and will conclude in March 2016, at which point a decision will be made as to the best procurement route."
However, the suggestion that the assessment will finish in March 2016 marks yet a further six-month delay to the project because Newsnight understands that the Joint Helicopter Command was determined to reach that milestone by September 2015.
Awarding the new contract offers the MoD a chance to make a landmark decision to put cost-effectiveness ahead of industrial interests. But the politics involved with the West Country helicopter-making business have never been easy, as previous defence secretaries can bear witness.


Robin McBryde will coach Wales on their summer tour of the Pacific Islands.

Head coach Warren Gatland is leading the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand and has named interim coach Rob Howley as part of his backroom team.
Forwards coach McBryde assumes head coach responsibilities for the third time after leading Wales on tours in 2009 and 2013.
"It is an honour to represent your country and to do so overseas carries extra responsibility," said McBryde.
"For me it is another exciting opportunity to lead the team.  It is something I have thoroughly enjoyed in the past and I'm really looking forward to doing it again at the end of the season."
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will appoint assistant coaches for the summer tour to assist McBryde.
"We are also at an advanced stage in discussions with a number of other individuals about the summer tour and hope to be in a position to confirm the full make-up of the management team next week," said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips.
Union chairman Gareth Davies, who is also on the Lions' selection panel, believes the involvement of Welsh coaches will benefit the national team.
"2017 is a real summer of opportunity for Welsh coaches and should benefit the whole of Welsh rugby in the years ahead," he said.
"It is not often that you get the opportunity to develop coaches in different environments.
"Our coaches and players have been invigorated by their Lions experiences on previous campaigns and there is little doubt that a tour of New Zealand will provide the ultimate test and so once again both mentally stimulate and inspire each individual."


The Irish foreign minister has warned talks to restore Stormont's institutions were operating under a "tight time frame".

Charlie Flanagan met NI Secretary James Brokenshire and also talked to some of the parties at Stormont on Wednesday.
Thursday's election ended the unionist majority at Stormont with Sinn Féin now just one seat behind the DUP.
Talks are being held to restore the power-sharing executive, but parties have just three weeks to reach a deal.
Mr Flanagan said: "I detect a willingness on the part of all parties involved to sit down and engage constructively in what is a challenge."
Mr Brokenshire, who arrived in Belfast after having heard the chancellor deliver his budget in London, said there was a sense of urgency to the talks, adding that he wanted to see a solution as soon as possible.
The secretary of state said he welcomed the £120m funding for Northern Ireland announced in the budget, adding that this "underlines the need for an executive to be in place in order to take that work forward".
Speaking after meeting Sinn Féin on Wednesday, DUP leader Arlene Foster said more meetings were planned.
"The dialogue continues in a very good nature, I think that's positive and obviously the focus is on getting devolution up and running again and as quickly as possible," she said.
"My team has met Sinn Féin on legacy issues today and we have been talking about the Stormont House Agreement, we have been talking about all the issues that have concerned us, including the issues around soldiers and how they are treated, how members of the security forces are treated, dealing with issues about the past."
Sinn Féin says the Irish government has a central role in the talks as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement.
It is likely to push Mr Flanagan on the outstanding commitments from previous agreements.
For his part, Mr Flanagan has already been in touch with party leaders, and said there was a willingness on all sides to resolve their differences.
But, he said, with Brexit around the corner there is an urgent need for an effective executive to be in place.
Sinn Féin broke off its meeting with Mr Brokenshire on Tuesday and said all he did was "waffle, waffle, and more waffle".
Its northern leader, Michelle O'Neill, said he had still not agreed to release funds for legacy inquests.
Mrs Foster said that waffle was a very pejorative term to use, adding that the DUP had had "very good engagement" with Mr Brokenshire.
Earlier, following a meeting with Mr Flanagan, Mrs O'Neill said: "It is a time for strong political leadership and delivery.
"The British government is holding up access to due process for families. They are key players in this. They need to step up to the plate."
The parties described their two days of talking as business-like, but said there was no sign they were close to resolving the big stumbling block - Sinn Féin's refusal to work with Arlene Foster as first minister while her role in a botched renewable energy scheme is being investigated.
The DUP went into last Thursday's election 10 seats ahead of Sinn Féin and, while it remains the largest party with 28 seats, its lead has been cut to just one seat.
Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the government must be run by Irish nationalists and unionists together, with the largest party being invited to put forward a candidate for first minister.
Sinn Féin and the DUP now have three weeks to reach a deal and if a government cannot be formed within that time then, under law, another election can be called.
Ultimately, if no power-sharing government is formed, power could return to the UK Parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade.


A woman has been arrested over an alleged fraud at a charity for disabled people in Lancashire.

Police said a 51-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of fraud in Scotland on Thursday, and is being questioned by officers in Preston.
The Space Centre in Ashton thought it had secured Â£800,000 in grants, only to find they never existed.
About 200 groups a month use the centre's facilities, which include multi-sensory areas.


Four aid workers have been kidnapped by members of the Somali Islamist militant group, al-Shabab.

The Somali nationals, doing work paid for by the World Health Organization (WHO), were abducted in the town of Luuq in the southwestern Gedo province.
Negotiations are said to be under way for their release.
Al-Shabab, which is behind many attacks in Somalia and neighbouring Kenya, is also known for using kidnappings to raise money.
The four who were taken were carrying out a WHO-funded vaccination programme.
Gedo province, where the kidnappings occurred, is one of several areas where al-Shabab militants say they have been delivering aid to people facing starvation.


Mohamed Eisa's fourth goal in three games was enough to earn Cheltenham a League Two win against Crawley.

The decisive moment came in the 38th minute when Eisa headed in a fine cross from Kyle Storer on the right.
Cheltenham lost playmaker Jerell Sellars to injury in the first half and Jon Flatt had been called into action several times to keep Crawley out before the opening goal.
The on-loan Wolves goalkeeper denied Mark Randall, Lewis Young and Jordan Roberts with smart saves.
Enzio Boldewijn shot high from a good position for Crawley early in the second half, but Cheltenham then pressed for a second goal.
Crawley had the ball in the net after 57 minutes, but Thomas Verheydt had fouled Flatt, knocking the ball out of his hands and it was disallowed.
Jordon Forster had to clear off the line for Cheltenham after a corner was met by the head of Mark Connolly, who saw another header bounce just wide.
Substitute Matt Harrold also went close to levelling, but Cheltenham held on.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Crawley Town 0.
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Crawley Town 0.
Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lewis Young (Crawley Town).
Jordan Forster (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Matt Harrold (Crawley Town).
Corner,  Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Jordan Roberts.
Attempt blocked. Nigel Atangana (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner,  Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Lewis Young.
Attempt blocked. Nigel Atangana (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Crawley Town. Dennon Lewis replaces Cedric Evina.
Mohamed Eisa (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mark Connolly (Crawley Town).
Attempt missed. Matt Harrold (Crawley Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Delay in match Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town) because of an injury.
Foul by Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town).
Jordan Roberts (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner,  Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Cedric Evina.
Attempt missed. Mark Randall (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Foul by Kyle Storer (Cheltenham Town).
Enzio Boldewijn (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Mark Connolly (Crawley Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner,  Crawley Town. Conceded by Kyle Storer.
Corner,  Crawley Town. Conceded by Carl Winchester.
Attempt missed. Carl Winchester (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Matt Harrold (Crawley Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Nigel Atangana (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Mohamed Eisa (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Josh Lelan (Crawley Town).
Substitution, Crawley Town. Panutche Camara replaces Thomas Verheydt.
Attempt missed. Mohamed Eisa (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner,  Crawley Town. Conceded by Jamie Grimes.
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Brian Graham replaces Daniel Wright.
Nigel Atangana (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Enzio Boldewijn (Crawley Town).
Carl Winchester (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Lewis Young (Crawley Town).
Attempt saved. Mohamed Eisa (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Mohamed Eisa (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Thomas Verheydt (Crawley Town).


Two brothers being sought after a woman had acid thrown in her face in Southampton have been named by police.

The 37-year-old was attacked in Guildhall Square, Southampton at about 21:00 BST on Friday.
Police said they wanted to trace Billy and Geoffrey Midmore, 22 and 26, both from London.
Acting Det Insp Will Whale said the pair had contacts in Southampton, Basingstoke, London and were considered "dangerous individuals".
"I would appeal to Billy and Geoffrey to give themselves up now.  We will carry on with our manhunt until we find you, so make it easier on yourselves and come forward," he added
The woman remains in hospital being treated for burns to her face, neck and arms.
Earlier police said they were investigating if she had previously reported she was worried for her safety.
A Hampshire police spokesman said: "We have instigated a review in relation to any previous reports made by the victim to the police."
The woman, who is believed to be from the city, was the victim of a targeted attack by a group of men, police said.
The force has reassured local residents and visitors to the city it was a rare and "isolated incident".


Russia beat France 22-19 to win women's handball gold at Rio 2016.

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Russia, Olympic silver medallists in 2008, led 10-7 after the first half and, although France fought back to 14-14, the Russians would not be denied.
Norway, gold medallists at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, beat the Netherlands 36-26 to clinch the bronze medal.
There could still be Olympic glory for France as their men's side - Olympic champions in 2008 and 2012 - play Denmark for the gold medal on Sunday.
Find out how to get into handball with our special guide.
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A special one-off episode of the hit BBC drama Sherlock will be shown in selected cinemas around the world, co-creator Steven Moffat has announced.

Speaking at Comic-Con in San Diego, he told thousands of fans of the TV show the story, set in Victorian England, would also be seen "on the big screen".
The fans, some of whom had queued for hours, were also the first to be shown a short scene from the episode.
Set in a snowy Baker Street, it sees the sleuth arriving home after a case.
"Did you catch a murderer, Mr Holmes?" asks a young child, carrying Sherlock and Dr Watson's suitcases.
"Caught the murderer, still looking for the legs," replies the detective, played by Benedict Cumberbatch.
"I think we'll call it a draw."
The new adventure is set in the same time frame as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.
Moffat said one of the challenges in writing the episode was exploring the different role played by Conan Doyle's female characters.
"One of the problems with the original, which we addressed in the modern series is that, for the most part, the women in the original Sherlock Holmes series don't really speak very much.
"And there isn't a Molly Hooper," he added to much laughter, referring to the morgue registrar played by Louise Brealey. "We'd forgotten that we invented Molly."
He also spoke about the continuing appeal of the character of Sherlock Holmes. Moffat's own theory is that "we're always going to be in love with the idea of a man who understands everything but himself".
The first day of Comic-Con saw British drama take centre stage. Another popular event was a Doctor Who panel which also featured Steven Moffat. The show's head writer appeared alongside Peter Capaldi who plays the Doctor, Jenna Coleman, who plays Clara, and Michelle Gomez, who plays Missy.
The 6,500 fans who filled the convention's Hall H were also the first to see the first trailer for the new series which airs on BBC One in September.
Amongst the biggest cheers were those for Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams's appearance at the end of the footage. She was seen greeting the Doctor with the words 'What took you so long, old man?'
During the hour long panel session, the Dr Who team were again asked about the possibility of a woman being cast as the Time Lord.
Jenna Coleman told the audience: "I'm sure it will happen at some point. It's just about casting the right actor".
And Peter Capaldi was rewarded with applause when he paid tribute to the show's history of over half a century, and the enthusiasm shown by American fans at his first Comic-Con.
"It's just an extraordinary experience, the whole thing. I could tell you that the show was successful overseas, and that it was catching on in America. But I didn't realise it was to this scale. So to come here and find this warmth and affection is absolutely extraordinary.
"But the most amazing thing that happens," he added. "I get the affection for the whole 50 years pointed in my direction."
Comic-Con runs until Sunday, 12 July. Forthcoming sessions include panels on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Game of Thrones, Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice.


Ethiopian security forces killed more than 400 people in the recent wave of anti-government demonstrations, US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.

In its most comprehensive report into the Oromo protests, HRW lists the names of more than 300 it says were killed.
The government has acknowledged that protesters have died but said HRW was "very generous with numbers".
Protests were sparked by fears that a plan to expand the capital into Oromia region would displace Oromo farmers.
They began in November last year, but the government dropped the proposal to enlarge Addis Ababa's administrative boundaries in January.
Africa Live: BBC news updates
The Oromo protests and Ethiopian unity
Why Ethiopia made â€˜master planâ€™ U-turn
Oromia is Ethiopia's largest region, completely surrounding the city.
The change of policy has not stopped the demonstrations, but they have reduced in their intensity.
At the last census in 2007, the Oromo made up Ethiopia's biggest ethnic group, at about 25 million people out of a population at the time of nearly 74 million.
An investigation, released last week, by the Ethiopia Human Rights Commission, appointed by parliament, found that 173 people had died during the unrest.
It said the dead included 28 security officers and local government officials.
Information Minister Getachew Reda said that in the main the security forces conducted themselves "in a very professional and responsible manner".
He put the killings down to "a few bad apples".
The government has said that it will investigate and deal with those responsible.
In March, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn apologised for the death and destruction of property caused by protests in Oromia region.
While his statement was bold, and came as a surprise, some protesters said it was a case of too little, too late.
The acknowledgment by the country's information minister that deaths had occurred is not different.
There will also be questions about the sincerity of investigating police officers who used unnecessary force.
Can it really do that while dozens of protesters are still being detained and are yet to be charged?
While the protests have died down recently, they remain significant as some believe they are highlighting the alleged marginalisation of the Oromo people.
The HRW report is based on interviews with more than 100 victims and witnesses and accuses the police and army of using excessive force, reports the BBC's Ethiopia correspondent Emmanuel Igunza.
Some of those interviewed allege they were hung by their ankles and beaten while others described having electric shocks applied to their feet while in detention.
Several women also claim to have been raped and sexually assaulted.
HRW also says that tens of thousands of people were arrested and hundreds have disappeared.


Neil Fulton is debating what sort of persona to give the driverless cars that are soon to hit the not-so-mean streets of Milton Keynes.

"Are they going to be polite and let people pass in front of them?" he asks.
"There is a danger that if they are too polite, they wouldn't make any progression. But, on the other hand, we couldn't have aggressive vehicles that present safety issues so we might be better targeting assertive vehicles that provide some sort of audible or visual warning when they are going to do something."
Mr Fulton heads a project known formally as the Lutz (low carbon urban transport zone) Pathfinder programme, which will see three full-electric and driverless pods tested on the streets (or more accurately the pavements) of Milton Keynes by the end of 2015.
If successful, a bigger fleet will be ordered and 100 vehicles could go into public service by 2017. They will act as taxis around the city.
For many, the mere idea of driverless cars is a leap of faith that they are not yet prepared to take, but the arguments for such transport are growing more persuasive by the day.
"You won't have to park your own car and you can sit back, read the newspaper or do emails while it is driving you," said Prof John Miles, a consultant from Arup who worked on the Milton Keynes project.
And it is not just our personal lives that are likely to change.
"It will completely transform transport and congestion in our cities. It used to be that cities were subjugated to the car but now we have the opportunity to do precisely the opposite - tailor our transport to fit our beautiful cities."
He envisages a future 20 or 30 years hence when autonomous city transport pods will co-exist with conventional cars.
"For longer journeys, we may still use our cars but in cities we will use transport systems which utilise driverless technology," he said.
Such vehicles are likely to be smaller than traditional cars, optimised to travel the most efficient routes and able to drive closer to each other, potentially freeing up much more road capacity.
"You couldn't trust a human being to drive a few feet in front of another car but you could trust an autonomous one," he said.
So why choose Milton Keynes as the UK's first test-bed for such technology?
"It happens to have a well-defined city centre with lots of pedestrian space and a progressive, forward-thinking council," explained Prof Miles.
Bright future?
Will part of our driving future be solar cars on solar roads?
Students at the Eindhoven University of Technology have developed what they call the world's first solar-powered family car, called Stella.
It can seat four people and travel for up to 250 miles without sunshine and on a sunny day, when fully charged, up to 420 miles.
It recently completed a  journey from Darwin to Adelaide using nothing but the energy of the sun.
Such cars may one day travel on solar-powered roads if a crowdfunded campaign to embed solar panels on roads succeeds.
Solar Roadways is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Scott and Julie Brusaw.
They claim that if the US built a nationwide solar road infrastructure it would generate more electricity than the country currently uses.
The project has been backed by Google and the US Federal Highway Administration.
The revolution in driverless cars is already well under way. Google expects to have its self-drive cars, which have already clocked up more than 300,000 miles, on the roads by 2017. And car manufacturers from Volvo to Tesla have promised their own autonomous vehicles by about the same time.
Already new cars coming off the production line have more in common with computers than the metal structures of old. Cruise control is pretty standard and, predicts Prof Miles, will soon give way to cars that ask 'Do you want me to take over?'
Change will be slow and subtle he thinks.
"We will keep on pretending that the driver is still in charge until it becomes apparent that they want to let the car drive itself," he said.
Surprisingly the legislative jump required to allow such vehicles is happening faster than many thought possible. In the US, several states have passed laws allowing such vehicles on the roads, Sweden has approved similar laws for Volvo and the UK too is promising to ease the way for Milton Keynes and other driverless cars.
But despite both the technology and the law being ready, not many cities are prepared to embrace such radical change.
Many have decided to take a different route to solving their traffic problem, installing intelligent traffic lights that can decide when to let traffic flow and when to stop it.
Others are using sensors embedded in the roads which can talk to traffic management systems and suggest different routes when there are roadworks or accidents.
Prof Miles thinks that such spending could be short-sighted because the cars being developed will be far smarter than the infrastructure around them.
"We won't need traffic lights at all in the future. The car will know all about the other cars around it."
Milton Keynes, as well as leading the UK's driverless car revolution, is also home to the Transport Systems Catapult, a group set up by government to find innovative ways to improve current transport problems and commercialise solutions.
Much of its work centres around analysing traffic data.
It boasts a fancy control room into which flows a massive amount of data about several types of movement including the flow of boats around the UK's ports, the number of people walking around London at any given time and real-time take-offs from airports around the country.
The information is often put together in quite stunning visualisations and the hope is that developers and others can come up with clever ways to use it to create new apps and services for citizens.
Another project in the unit aims to demonstrate the cause and effect of traffic flow.
Looking down on a touchscreen table, on to which is projected the traffic flowing around Manchester city centre, users could be forgiven for feeling rather like the ancient gods of Olympus.
They can manipulate the flow simply by placing down a counter saying "roadworks" or "public event" and watch the immediate effects on the traffic.
The centre is also experimenting with so-called sentiment mapping, gathering the tweets and other social media interactions related to the eight major rail operators which serve London and representing them as coloured blocks on a map - with each colour representing a different mood, aiming to show how customers rate each train company on a daily basis.
It is all part of what Steve Yianni, chief executive of the Transport Systems Catapult, calls intelligent mobility which he hopes can "harness new technologies to create seamless journeys, where transport is smart and connected, and delays and congestions are a thing of the past".
Until then, congestion is one of the biggest problems facing cities and up to 10% of it is caused by people driving around looking for somewhere to park.
So an app that allows you to find a parking space from someone  that is actually in that space and prepared to reserve it until you get there for a small fee might seem like a great idea.
Not according to the city of San Francisco which this summer banned the use of MonkeyParking which did just that, claiming the app created "a predatory private market for public parking spaces".
As with traffic lights and roads, cities are keen to control how people use their infrastructure.
Many have started to roll out sensors in parking spaces with a view to using the data to create their own parking apps or offer variable parking prices depending on demand and availability.
For the time being, the use of smart technology and data analysis seems to be the way cities want to deal with their traffic issues and it will be a brave city that rips out traffic lights  to make way for driverless cars.
But if we are ever to achieve the dream of congestion-free cities, a more radical approach may be needed and the solution seems tantalisingly close for those bold enough to grab it.


One of four men accused of attempting to smuggle 35 immigrants into the UK in a shipping container, in which one man died, has been found not guilty.

Meet Singh Kapoor, 40, was found dead at Tilbury docks in Essex last August.
Timothy Murphy, 33, of Elmgrove in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, was cleared at Basildon Crown Court.
Taha Sharif, 38, of High Cross Road, Tottenham, was convicted last week. The jury has yet to decide on two other men.
The four all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.
The two still to be decided upon are Stephen McLaughlin, 34, of Limavady in Londonderry, and Martin McGlinchey, 47, of Derryloughan Road in Coalisland, County Tyrone.
During the trial jurors were told the migrants were found distressed and in cramped conditions.
The group of Afghan Sikh migrants, which included 15 children, arrived in the UK on a ship from Belgium on 16 August, 2014. They are believed to have fled Afghanistan after suffering persecution.
All of the immigrants are now claiming asylum in the UK, the court heard.


Gareth Southgate passed the most vital stage of his audition to be England manager as his side eased to a World Cup qualifying win over Scotland at Wembley.

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Southgate was effectively handed a four-game trial period by the Football Association after the abrupt end to Sam Allardyce's 67-day spell in charge.
And the meeting with 'The Auld Enemy' at Wembley was always going to be the defining moment when it came to measuring Southgate's suitability to take England towards the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
So, after a 3-0 win that soothed concerns following the drab goalless draw in Slovenia, is Southgate now a certainty for England's top job on a permanent basis?
It is a fair bet the FA's decision-makers will have had everything crossed for an uneventful, victorious night at Wembley as they consider the decision on England's next manager.
And as chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn made their retreat from Wembley, there was every chance that what they had seen in a routine England win had made up their minds.
The 46-year-old Southgate, who has built his reputation within the FA with his work with the England Under-21 team, is the obvious and favoured choice to calm the turbulence that followed the conclusion of Allardyce's short reign.
Southgate has the background of working at St George's Park, won the Toulon tournament with the under-21s and is the sort of measured, mature personality who is regarded as a good fit to take England forward.
All he needed to do was win some football matches during his short audition.
And, by any measure, this 3-0 win will probably prove enough to seal the deal, even after a performance that never rose above average against a poor Scotland team.
There was nothing revolutionary about Southgate's England on this night, nothing to send their fans out of Wembley with an extra spring in their step - but he showed enough of a sure touch to make his coronation little more than a formality.
Southgate chose well when it came to deciding between Daniel Sturridge and Harry Kane. He showed understanding to resist the temptation to throw the Spurs striker in after only 72 minutes of action at Arsenal following a seven-week absence, despite the obvious attractions of his goalscoring ability.
He went for Sturridge, short of action at Liverpool but fit and determined to prove his worth. He was rewarded with a fine opening goal from the striker to settle any nerves Southgate and England might have been feeling.
Southgate brought Wayne Rooney back in as captain and a steadying influence after dropping him in Slovenia, although that decision was made much easier by Dele Alli's injury. It was a conservative team selection, with players Southgate knew he could rely on - but the end justified the means.
England's ploy of playing out from the back looked like an alien activity for much of the first half, but this was a night when the result was everything for both team and manager.
The smart money was on victory assuring Southgate of his elevation to England manager - should he be happy with the terms of reference of course - and the only questions might have been posed if they had failed to beat a Scotland team who have won just 11 of their past 32 qualifiers, drawing eight and losing 13.
England have had no trouble racking up qualifying victories, winning 24 and drawing eight of their past 32. This meant victory was essential to ensure Southgate's credibility was not damaged and to make life much easier for the FA.
This can be regarded as mission accomplished.
England's win against Scotland means that Southgate and the FA can tick all the boxes after this three-game public interview for the manager's job.
Southgate, as was his intention, has left England top of their group after the three qualifiers he has overseen - with this game the most important - while also looking a perfect fit off the pitch after the fiasco of Allardyce's departure.
Results in competitive games are ultimately the only currency Southgate has to deal in, but he has also shown a sure touch off the field which has greatly impressed the FA.
Southgate dealt diplomatically and calmly with the landmark decision to drop Rooney for the last qualifier in Slovenia. He showed a sensitivity and understanding to the Manchester United forward's reputation and feelings, with the deposed captain even feeling comfortable enough to sit alongside the man who had excluded him at the pre-match news conference.
If the FA needed evidence of how Southgate would handle a potentially incendiary issue, this was it. It was a pressure point and the former Middlesbrough manager proved he had the confidence and self-belief not just to make the big decision, but to handle the fallout in an assured manner.
Southgate has also looked at ease with the pressures of managing England. The real pinch points will come in the heat of a tournament, but he has performed impressively so far.
The players have also looked at ease with Southgate around the England camp. He looks like the sort of figure, 20 years younger than Allardyce and his predecessor Roy Hodgson, who may well be more on the wavelength of younger players, such as Manchester City's 21-year-old winger Raheem Sterling.
FA chairman Clarke wrote in the match programme notes, looking ahead to the period after this game: "We then have a break until next March and, as we have said, we will consider our options for the permanent England manager's role. I must again pay tribute to Gareth for his professionalism and diligent work."
A clue? It read like one. It is unlikely Clarke's high opinion of Southgate would have been decreased by England's biggest win over Scotland in 41 years.
If this was an examination, Southgate's three games would probably have earned him a seven out of 10 - and that is likely to mean a pass mark from the FA.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Southgate's four-game spell in temporary charge ends after Tuesday's friendly against Spain (20:00 GMT kick-off), where a win would simply strengthen his case and anything else is unlikely to have any impact on the decision-making process.
As Clarke stated, the FA does now have this gap and a period of grace before a friendly away to World Cup holders Germany in March.
All roads appear to be leading to an announcement that Southgate has got the job well before then - but should the FA take advantage of that break to explore every other option?
BBC Sport pundit and former Scotland international Pat Nevin insists there should be no hurry on the FA's part.
He said: "Why do you have to give him the job now? There is no reason to do it. Wait until the summer and you have all sorts of options, one being Gareth still.
"England are going through anyway but you might be turning down the opportunity to get Arsene Wenger or someone of that ilk."
Should the FA decide to wait, which seems unlikely, then Southgate may well wonder why. Would it be a signal that the FA still harbours doubts about his capability? Would that effect his willingness to take the job?
And a wait for Wenger is a gamble. There is no guarantee the Frenchman would accept, with Arsenal still very much his complete commitment and a growing likelihood he will sign a new contract at Emirates Stadium.
After the shock to the FA's system brought about by the speed and manner of Allardyce's departure, Southgate represents the candidate of stability and continuity, complete with FA background and the sort of character that is their ideal for the footballing figurehead of the organisation.
And that quick appointment is still the most likely outcome.


A primary school is charging parents £1 to watch their children in its nativity play, sparking outrage from parents.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Worcester is charging for tickets due to "tightening budgets".
Head teacher Louise Bury said there had been "mixed feelings" in response to the charge, with some teachers suffering verbal abuse.
The money will be used to buy books and equipment, Mrs Bury said.
"Hardly breaking the bank" - parents react
The school, in Warndon, is charging for three performances by pupils in Key Stage One, Reception and nursery.
In a letter to parents, Mrs Bury said: "I know that for some of you, paying to see your child perform doesn't feel right.
"With ever tightening budgets and growing numbers, we saw this as an opportunity to be able to invest in some valuable reading and learning resources for Key Stage One and Early Years."
The resources would help improve children's reading progress, particularly learning at home, she said.
Mrs Bury voiced concerns about the reaction of parents to the move.
She said in the letter: "I have been extremely concerned about the conduct of some parents towards my staff which in some cases I can only describe as verbal abuse."
Mrs Bury added the "partnership" between the school and parents was very important and she would arrange to meet anyone to discuss any issues of concern.
Several people backed the school on the BBC Hereford and Worcester Facebook page.
Philip Bannister wrote: "Nothing wrong with it at all. Schools are struggling financially due to funding cuts and if this helps even just a little, it seems a sensible thing to do."
Michael Leighton wrote: "Can't believe parents moaning about paying a £1 then you see them queuing at the drive through at McDonald's."


Leeds United's Scotland international striker Ross McCormack has joined Championship rivals Fulham for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £11m.

McCormack has signed a four-year contract with the Cottagers, with the option of a further 12 months.
The 27-year-old told BBC Radio Leeds he felt he had been "hung out to dry" over the move.
Leeds said last week they were under no pressure to sell their captain after he handed in a transfer request.
McCormack, the subject of a failed bid from West Ham in January, was last season's top scorer in the Championship, netting 28 goals as Leeds finished 16th.
He said the Elland Road club would "always have a special place in my heart" but was "no longer the Leeds United I fell in love with".
The Glasgow-born forward started his career at Rangers, before spells at Motherwell and Cardiff City prior to his switch to Leeds in 2010.
McCormack has been capped 11 times by Scotland and has scored twice for his country.
He is Fulham's fifth summer signing following their relegation last season after a 13-year stay in the Premier League.
Cottagers manager Felix Magath has already recruited former Schalke defender Tim Hoogland, Australia striker Adam Taggart, defender Kay Voser from Basel and Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson.


Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he will consult more widely before announcing knights and dames, after criticism of his knighthood for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Commentators say Mr Abbott's choice was out of step with public attitudes and raised doubts about his judgement.
Mr Abbott re-introduced knighthood and damehood honours last year, nearly 20 years after they had been discontinued.
Australia, a parliamentary democracy, has Britain's monarch as head of state.
The prime minister's decision to grant a knighthood to the Prince - announced on Australia Day on Monday - has been described by the press as a "captain's call", which failed to take into account the opinion of party colleagues.
The leader of the opposition Labor party, Bill Shorten, said the decision to honour a British royal was "anachronistic". He has called for Australians to rally behind declaring their country a republic.
Australia's honours system
At a conference on Wednesday, Mr Abbott defended his choice but also said he had listened to the criticism.
"I understand why some people don't like it," he said. "I take it on the chin but I want to assure people that I have heard and there will be more consultation around these awards in the future."
Mr Abbott had praised the Prince's work as a campaigner, highlighting the achievements in Australia of his youth charity, the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Many politicians - including some from Mr Abbott's party - said they were bewildered by the award.
Queensland Premier and Mr Abbott's conservative colleague, Campbell Newman, has described the knighthood as a "bolt from the blue".
Mr Newman goes to the polls on Saturday for the state's general election. Mr Abbott's widespread unpopularity is considered to be a drawback for the campaign.
The prime minister, who has not appeared in Queensland during the campaign, did not answer a journalist's question about whether he owed Mr Newman an apology, saying only that his federal government had done much that had benefitted Queenslanders.


German Eduard Gutknecht was taken to hospital after Britain's George Groves defended his WBA International super-middleweight title in London.

The 34-year-old fell ill in his changing room and was carried out on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
Gutknecht is in a stable condition and will continue to be monitored after having surgery and being sedated, the British Boxing Board of Control said.
Groves scored a unanimous points win in the fight at Wembley's SSE Arena.
It moves him closer to a shot at the vacant WBA super-middleweight title.
The Londoner said he was "deeply concerned" for his opponent in a social media post on Saturday morning.
"Out of respect to Eduard Gutknecht and his family's privacy, I don't want to say too much but we are all deeply concerned to hear that he was taken to hospital after the fight last night," he said.
"I sincerely hope it is nothing too serious and I would like to send out all my support and best wishes to him and his family at this difficult time."
The judges awarded the fight to Groves, 28, with one scoring it 119-110 in his favour and two 119-109.
Groves has now won his past four fights since losing two world title bouts - one to Carl Froch and one against Badou Jack.
"I am very happy with how I fought - it went exactly to plan," Groves told Channel 5 before news emerged of Gutknecht being taken to hospital. "I set a great tempo and busted him up badly. I am surprised he made it to the bell - Gutknecht is a tough character.
"We want real, big, proper fights. There was no world title on the line, but we knew Gutknecht was going to give me a tough fight. It will push me on for a world title fight and, ideally, I would love a rematch with Badou Jack."
The Londoner looked confident against Gutknecht and hurt his opponent with a couple of blows to the head in the fourth round.
He continued to find the target with his combinations and cut open Gutknecht's right eye in the 10th, but the 34-year-old managed to make it through the full 12 rounds.
Meanwhile, Welshman Andrew Selby stopped Jake Bornea of the Philippines in the seventh round in London.
Selby, the brother of IBF featherweight champion Lee, has now won all seven of his fights since turning professional in September 2015.


A Canadian man has been killed during a rescue operation after he cut an endangered whale free from tangled fishing lines.

Joe Howlett succeeded in rescuing the whale, only to be struck by it moments later as it flipped into the water.
He was a lobster fisherman by trade and a founder of the whale rescue group on Campobello Island, New Brunswick.
Friends told the Canadian Press he had saved some two dozen whales over 15 years.
Mackie Green, a friend of Mr Howlett who had founded the rescue team with him, said: "They got the whale totally disentangled and then some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip."
"Joe definitely would not want us to stop because of this," he added. "This is something he loved and there's no better feeling than getting a whale untangled, and I know how good he was feeling after cutting that whale clear."
The animal was a North Atlantic right whale - an endangered species that may grow to about 15m (50 feet) in length and weigh up to 70 tonnes.
The species is "critically endangered", with about 500 left alive, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Seven were found dead in Canada's Gulf of St Laurence in the last month - a significant blow to the global population.
Mr Howlett was on board a government response vessel at the time of his death.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said he had rescued another whale days before, on 5 July. Rescuers like Mr Howlett had "immense bravery and a passion for the welfare of marine mammals", it said.
"There are serious risks involved with any disentanglement attempt. Each situation is unique, and entangled whales can be unpredictable."
Mr Howlett lived on Campobello Island, a small community on the border with the US, where locals have been paying tribute to the well-known rescue worker.
"There's only 850 people here on Campobello Island now and Joe was a very lively character, he had a great sense of humour," mayor Stephen Smart told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
"Everybody knew Joe Howlett and everybody respected Joe Howlett... it's a big blow."


President-elect Donald Trump has said he is open to keeping elements of Obamacare, despite a relentless calls from congressional Republicans to repeal the entire programme.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare or the ACA, is the largest overhaul of the US healthcare system since the 1960s. What does it do, and why is it controversial?
Its aim is simple - to extend health insurance coverage to some of the estimated 15% of the US population who lack it. Those people receive no coverage from their employers and are not covered by US health programmes for the poor and elderly.
To achieve this, the law requires all Americans to have health insurance, but offers subsidies to make coverage more affordable and aims to reduce the cost of insurance by bringing younger, healthier people into the medical coverage system.
It also requires businesses with more than 50 full-time employees to offer health insurance.
The law creates state-run marketplaces - with websites akin to online travel and shopping sites - where individuals can compare prices as they shop for coverage. Some states have chosen not to participate in the ACA, and their residents can shop on a marketplace run by the federal government.
In addition, the law bans insurance companies from denying health coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions, allows young people to remain on their parents' plans until age 26, and expands eligibility for the government-run Medicaid health programme for the poor.
The law aims eventually to slow the growth of US healthcare spending, which is the highest in the world.
Republicans say the law imposes too many costs on business, with many describing it as a "job killer". However, since the implementation of Obamacare, jobs in the health care sector rose by 9%.
They have also decried it as an unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of private businesses and individuals.
The party and a veritable industry of conservative think tanks and advocacy groups have fought the law since Mr Obama first proposed it in 2009 at the start of his first term in office.
After the law was passed in 2010, Republicans launched several legal challenges. In 2012 the US Supreme Court declared it constitutional. It also featured in another Supreme Court case in 2016, when employers argued both against the provision that says companies have to provide birth control and the work-around that allowed the federal government to provide birth control to employees who worked at companies who did not want to provide birth control. The court did not issue a ruling, instead ordering both sides to try to find a compromise.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, controlled by the Republicans, has taken dozens of symbolic votes to repeal the law and forced a partial government shutdown over the issue. Republicans in state capitals have also sought to undermine it in various ways.
Democrats say Republicans have been politically motivated to attack Mr Obama's flagship domestic achievement in order to weaken him.
It's estimated that 22 million would lose medical insurance if Obamacare were repealed. Provisions of the law make care accessible to those who had previously been shut out. The uninsured rate has dropped by 5% since the programme began.
Some of the more popular provisions include:
As the law has been implemented there have been certain sections that work better than others, and some that cause problems for consumers.  The Obama administration and Democratic members of Congress have tried to push through fixes that they say would alleviate these problems; the Republicans say the flaws are evidence of a failed programme.
Some of the bigger problems include:


Germany has become the preferred destination for thousands of people reaching Europe in search of a better life.

Some 450,000 asylum seekers have entered Germany already this year and up to a million are expected in 2015 - by far the most in the EU.
The government in Berlin has broadly welcomed refugees, relaxing EU rules so that it no longer sends back Syrians to other EU countries.
But it introduced temporary border controls on Sunday after admitting that its capacity had been stretched to the limit.
Until now, the federal government has insisted it can cope with the high numbers of asylum seekers but wants the burden shared between EU countries.
Authorities have been giving assistance to new arrivals at stations in Munich and other German cities before taking them to reception centres.
The "Koenigsteiner Key" is used to distribute asylum seekers across Germany's 16 federal states, calculated according to their tax revenue and their population.
For example, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, will be expected to take 21% of all asylum seekers, while Thuringia, the focus of several attacks on asylum accommodation, is set to receive under 3%.
With a huge build-up of asylum seekers in the Bavarian city of Munich, and reception centres apparently reaching capacity, authorities in affected states have been calling for the federal government in Berlin to do more.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told radio station Bayern 2 that stricter controls were needed because "many en route here are not really refugees".
"It's got about in the last few days that you are successful if everyone claims to be Syrian," he added.
The dispute has seen Chancellor Angela Merkel come under increasing pressure particularly from political allies in the Christian Social Union (CSU), which has ruled Bavaria, Germany's wealthiest state, for nearly 60 years. State Premier Horst Seehofer described the decision to open the borders as "a mistake that will occupy us for a long time".
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday that the problem was "not the number of refugees but the rapidity at which they arrived".
He said "Europe's inaction in the refugee crisis had driven Germany... to the limit of its capacity".
The government ordered police to begin checking travel documents on Sunday from anyone entering from the southern frontier with Austria, and federal police set up roadblocks on motorway networks.
Rail services to Munich were affected by the changes, too.
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the border controls would remain in place until further notice.
"The aim of this measure is to limit the current influx to Germany and to return to orderly entry procedures," he said.
"This is also urgently necessary for security reasons."
The move goes against the principle of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between many European countries. However, the Schengen agreement does allow for temporary suspensions.
There have been warnings that the restrictions could make conditions worse for the thousands of migrants continuing to make the perilous journey across Europe to Germany.
"These measures will not create more order but only much more chaos," said Katrin Goering-Eckhardt, the parliamentary leader of the opposition Greens, according to Reuters.
But the government argues that the new measures will not affect the rights of refugees coming to Germany.
The temporary border controls were introduced hours before an emergency meeting of European interior ministers and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said they were "a signal to Europe".
"Germany is facing up to its humanitarian responsibility, but the burdens connected with the large number of refugees must be distributed in solidarity," he said.
EU ministers were to vote on a May 2015 plan to redistribute an initial 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea through mandatory quotas.
The EU has since raised the total number of people it seeks to share out through quotas to 160,000 asylum seekers across 23 EU states.
But Germany says this still is not enough.
Speaking in the German parliament last week, the vice chancellor described the plans as "a first step, if one wants to be polite".
"Or you could call it a drop in the ocean."
An application for asylum is made at the reception centre on arrival, where personal details, fingerprints and photographs (for those over 14) are taken. A temporary permission to stay is granted.
The asylum seeker will then be invited to an interview to decide his or her case.
The current average time from application to decision is 5.3 months, according to the German government.
If granted refugee status, a residence permit for three years will be granted. After this time a permanent residence permit can be applied for.
Germany designates all EU states plus Ghana, Senegal, Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as "safe countries of origin" - which means that asylum claims from nationals of these countries are likely to be rejected.
On 7 September the government announced that Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro would be added to this list.
Asylum seekers normally stay at reception centres for up to six weeks.
After that they are offered either communal accommodation, or housed individually, depending on the policy of the federal state.
People who are unable to support themselves financially "receive what they need for their day-to-day life", the German government says.
Support varies from state to state, but generally includes non-cash benefits covering food and accommodation costs, plus limited spending money.
After being in the country for three months, asylum seekers can apply for permission to start work, subject to various restrictions.
Anyone given a residence permit has unrestricted access to the labour market after four years.
No - Germany has a long and complicated history of population movement.
After Germany's defeat in World War Two, millions of ethnic Germans were forced to leave areas of Poland, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Russia and resettle in West and East Germany.
The booming economy of post-war West Germany required more workers, and huge numbers of "guest workers" arrived from Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain and - most significantly - Turkey.
Communist East Germany also took on temporary workers from "fraternal socialist countries", including North Vietnam, Cuba and Mozambique, although most returned after German reunification.
In 1991 the country enacted laws enabling Jews from the former Soviet Union to move to Germany - more than 200,000 Jewish people and their families immigrated in this way.
Around 350,000 people fleeing the Bosnian conflict were given temporary refuge in Germany in the 1990s, but most have since left.
In total, 20.3% of Germany's population now have "a migration background" - the term German officialdom uses to describe immigrants or their children.
But Germany's population is shrinking, due to its low birth rate, and it has been argued that it needs migrants to keep its economy going.


We live in a "brutal, bloody, divided, torn world" which can seem "out of control and unpredictable", the Archbishop of Wales has said.

In his last Christmas message before retiring, Dr Barry Morgan described "bitterness in the air" in the UK.
Urging people to "build bridges not walls", he called 2016 "extraordinary" with Syria's conflict, the refugee crisis, Brexit and Donald Trump votes.
Dr Morgan will preach at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, on Christmas Day.
He will stand down at the end of January after almost 14 years at the helm of the Church in Wales, making him the longest serving archbishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Dr Morgan described bitterness in the UK "about Brexit" and in the United States about "a president who has come to power despite his appalling remarks about women, people of other faiths and Mexicans".
He added: "The fact is that in spite of all the outrageous revelations about him, Donald Trump was still elected.
"What does that say about those who voted for him in a country where most people still claim to be religious?"
He described the challenge in a divided world being to show "tolerance and grace" to people with whose views they may totally disagree.
A service at Llandaff Cathedral on Christmas Day starts at 11:00 GMT.


Detectives have issued pictures of two men in a fresh appeal for witnesses to a serious assault in Glasgow in September.

Two men were left in hospital after they were assaulted in Bath Street at about 03:30 on Saturday 26 September.
They had been involved in an argument with a group of people and were seriously injured in an ensuing fight.
Police appealed for any witnesses who recognise the men in the images issued to come forward.
The first man is described as being white, 20 to 25 years old, 5ft 10in to 6ft tall and with short hair. He was wearing a long-sleeved polo top and dark-coloured jeans.
The second man was of similar age, 6ft to 6ft 2in tall, with dark hair. He was wearing a dark-coloured polo top.
Det Con Blair Duncan, of Police Scotland, said Bath Street was busy at the time of the incident, and appealed for members of the public who assisted the victims or who saw the suspects to make contact with officers.


Venezuela has denounced new US sanctions against it, with its foreign minister saying the US was trying to promote a humanitarian crisis.

Jorge Arreaza also said his country was a victim of "fake news" that exaggerated its economic difficulties.
The US accuses President NicolÃ¡s Maduro's government of violating human rights and subverting democracy.
President Trump's order bans trade in Venezuelan debt and blocks its state oil firm from selling bonds in the US.
Mr Arreaza said that the sanctions and "threats" amounted to "uncivilised politics".
President Maduro would not attend the UN General Assembly in New York next month, he said.
Announcing the new sanctions, the White House said the "Maduro dictatorship" was denying Venezuelans food and medicine.
It said the controversial new constituent assembly - which has voted to take powers from the opposition-led parliament - amounted to a "fundamental break in Venezuela's legitimate constitutional order".
Earlier this month, the US imposed sanctions on President Maduro and some of his closest aides.
Separately on Friday, National Security Adviser HR McMaster said that the US was not planning military action in Venezuela "in the near future".
President Trump had controversially raised that possibility two weeks ago.
Inside the anti-government protests


Valleys communities could be waiting decades for a boost from a new integrated transport system for south Wales, a leading economist has warned.

Prof Calvin Jones admitted the South Wales Metro plan had raised hopes that the Valleys would immediately benefit.
The Welsh Government said the Metro would be "transformational" as they hope first services will be running on the network by 2023.
But Prof Jones said the first places to benefit "may indeed be in Cardiff".
"This is a minimum of a 15-year to 20-year project," Prof Jones of the Cardiff Business School told the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales TV programme.
"The expectations of this process, between the shiny Metro and the reality of what will be an incremental long-term development, are very difficult to manage."
The initial work will be carried out to upgrade the existing Valleys lines and it is estimated that part of the billion pound scheme could cost around £734m up to 2023.
The Metro scheme promises better trains, faster buses and light rail or tram services in Cardiff and the south Wales valleys.
Welsh ministers are working towards making an application for funds by mid-2017, with construction to begin in 2019 and completion by the end of 2022.
The finance includes £125m from UK government funds and £369m from the Welsh budget.
First Minister Carwyn Jones travelled to the European Commission in Brussels on Wednesday in a bid to secure £110m of EU funding for the South Wales Metro project.
A Welsh government spokesman told BBC Wales the response in those meetings had been "encouraging".
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said the government hoped to "have diggers in the ground towards the end of this decade".
"The Metro will be a transformational piece of infrastructure for south Wales," he said.
"This will connect many communities that are currently feeling quite isolated and I've been very clear all along that the Metro should primarily serve the valleys communities.
"By 2023 we hope to have Metro services up and running."
Geraint Corkrey, owner of the Navigation pub and cafe in Treharris, in Merthyr Tydfil county borough, said: "We'd like to think that a Metro system with a stop in Treharris would bring people into the village.
"Hopefully that would benefit the local economy and boost the area in general, which personally I think is much needed."
However, Prof Jones warned: "The first places to benefit from the Metro may indeed be in Cardiff.
"The problem with that is people in Treharris don't want to wait too long."


This will not have been an easy decision for Prince William to make.

For a second time, he's giving up a role he didn't inherit, but gained on merit.
After stints in the RAF and the air ambulance, his days as a pilot are coming to an end.
He will miss them.  He's spoken of how he's loved working in a team. Something, he said, "his other job" didn't necessarily offer.
The prince is the only senior royal to have a deep understanding of the National Health Service the majority of the population experience.
With his family moving from Norfolk to London, Prince George will go to a private school from September.
And Prince William and his wife will be available to do more royal work.  The demands will increase now the Queen has turned 90.
The future king's exclusive focus will very soon be on his role as a Windsor and a destiny he'll one day embrace.
Read full article


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The prices of first and second class stamps are to rise by 1p from 27 March, Royal Mail has announced.

It will take the price of a first class stamp to 65p, and second class to 56p.
Royal Mail said the price rises were necessary to maintain the universal service - the principle that it delivers letters across the whole of the UK for the same price.
A stamp for large first class letter will rise by 2p to 98p. A large second class letter will go up by 1p to 76p.
The increases are in line with the rise in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which rose by 1.8% in the year to January.
Royal Mail said it understood how hard it was for many companies and households in the current economic environment.
For that reason, it said it had considered any pricing changes very carefully.
However, it added that UK stamps represented good value compared to the rest of Europe.
The average price of a first class stamp in Europe is 87p it said, while an average second class stamp is 67p.
Fewer people are sending letters, but Royal Mail is handling more parcels.
Letter usage declined by 6% in the nine months to December, the company said at the end of last year.


Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick and Thomas Muller got two as Bayern Munich crushed struggling Augsburg to close in on a fifth successive Bundesliga title.

Lewandowski volleyed into the top corner to open the scoring before striking from close range.
Bayern scored four goals after the interval, Lewandowski making it 3-0 before Thiago struck.
Lewandowski then completed his hat-trick, with Muller getting the sixth.
Bayern are 13 points clear at the top with eight games remaining.
Poland striker Lewandowski now has 24 league goals of the season, while Muller was twice denied by the woodwork before he scored his first goal.
Carlo Ancelotti handed keeper Sven Ulreich a rare start after Manuel Neuer underwent surgery on a foot injury.
Ulreich was rarely tested as Bayern clocked up a fifth straight league clean sheet win.
Bayern's next match is away to third-placed Hoffenheim on Tuesday (19:00 BST).
Match ends, FC Bayern München 6, FC Augsburg 0.
Second Half ends, FC Bayern München 6, FC Augsburg 0.
Corner,  FC Bayern München. Conceded by Tim Rieder.
Attempt blocked. Arjen Robben (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Franck Ribéry.
Attempt blocked. Dominik Kohr (FC Augsburg) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dong-Won Ji.
Offside, FC Bayern München. Arjen Robben tries a through ball, but Franck Ribéry is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Georg Teigl (FC Augsburg) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dong-Won Ji.
Corner,  FC Bayern München. Conceded by Philipp Max.
Christoph Janker (FC Augsburg) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!  FC Bayern München 6, FC Augsburg 0. Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jérôme Boateng.
Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tim Rieder (FC Augsburg).
Substitution, FC Augsburg. Jonathan Schmid replaces Paul Verhaegh.
Goal!  FC Bayern München 5, FC Augsburg 0. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) header from very close range to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Attempt saved. Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jérôme Boateng.
Corner,  FC Bayern München. Conceded by Gojko Kacar.
Offside, FC Bayern München. Renato Sanches tries a through ball, but Robert Lewandowski is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Kevin Danso (FC Augsburg) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Philipp Max with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Rafinha (FC Bayern München).
Halil Altintop (FC Augsburg) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Renato Sanches (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski.
Offside, FC Augsburg. Paul Verhaegh tries a through ball, but Georg Teigl is caught offside.
Substitution, FC Bayern München. Rafinha replaces Mats Hummels.
Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Georg Teigl (FC Augsburg).
Attempt blocked. Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Juan Bernat.
Attempt missed. Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Arjen Robben.
Attempt missed. Dong-Won Ji (FC Augsburg) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Philipp Max.
Substitution, FC Bayern München. Renato Sanches replaces Thiago Alcántara.
Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Arjen Robben.
Substitution, FC Bayern München. Arjen Robben replaces Kingsley Coman.
Goal!  FC Bayern München 4, FC Augsburg 0. Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski.
Goal!  FC Bayern München 3, FC Augsburg 0. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Franck Ribéry with a through ball.
Foul by Mats Hummels (FC Bayern München).
Halil Altintop (FC Augsburg) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski.
Corner,  FC Augsburg. Conceded by Thomas Müller.
Foul by Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München).
Halil Altintop (FC Augsburg) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Second Half begins FC Bayern München 2, FC Augsburg 0.


Fifa has handed over computer data to the Swiss authorities investigating the World Cup bids for 2018 and 2022.

The information was seized at the Zurich headquarters of world football's governing body from offices which included that of its president Sepp Blatter, the BBC understands.
Fifa said it had co-operated fully with the authorities.
Swiss police said last month that they were looking into how the forthcoming World Cups were allocated.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also carrying out an investigation into corruption at Fifa. So far 14 people have been indicted, nine of whom are current or former Fifa officials.
IT data from the offices of secretary general Jerome Valcke and the organisation's financial chief Markus Kattner is also believed to have been released to Swiss police.
Fifa reiterated that it had instigated the inquiry and the organisation was, according to the Swiss Attorney General, the "injured party".
Q&A: Could Fifa really take the World Cup from Russia or Qatar?
The criminal investigation focuses on the mismanagement of funds in relation to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Both countries have denied any wrongdoing.
The bidding process for the 2026 World Cup has been postponed. Mr Valcke said on Wednesday that it was "a nonsense" to begin the process in the current climate.
Mr Blatter has announced he will step down from his role as president, amid the ongoing allegations.
He is expected to be replaced at an election on 16 December.


The UK population grew by half a million last year to 65.1 million, according to the latest Office for National Statistics official estimate.

The rise of 513,300 in the year to June 2015 was in line with average annual rises over the last decade, it said.
The increase was driven by "natural growth" (excess of births over deaths) of 171,800 people, and net migration of 335,600, according to the ONS.
The largest percentage increase was in England and the lowest was in Wales.
An increase of 5,800, covering armed forces personnel stationed in the UK and the prison population, was also a factor in the estimated growth of the population, according to the ONS.
The older population has continued to rise, with more than 11.6 million people (17.8% of the population) now aged 65 and over, and 1.5 million people (2.3% of the population) aged 85 and over in mid-2015.
Elsewhere, the figure for natural growth was at its lowest for 10 years.
This was caused by an increase in the number of deaths combined with a continuing decrease in the number of births - down 1,900 on the previous year.
An increase in immigration (up 53,700) and a smaller decrease in emigration (down 22,300) have both contributed to an increase in net international migration - the difference between the numbers of people coming to live in Britain and those emigrating.


US mathematician John Nash, who inspired the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind, has died in a car crash with his wife, police have said.

Nash, 86, and his 82-year-old wife Alicia were killed when their taxi crashed in New Jersey, they said.
The mathematician is renowned for his work in game theory, winning the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994.
His breakthroughs in maths - and his struggles with schizophrenia - were the focus of the 2001 film.
Russell Crowe, who played him, tweeted: "Stunned... My heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts."
The film's director, Ron Howard, also tweeted  his tribute to the "brilliant" John Nash and his "remarkable" wife.
Alicia Nash helped care for her husband, and the two later became prominent mental health advocates.
The two were thrown from their vehicle, police said. Media reports said the couple may not have been wearing seatbelts when they crashed.
Their taxi driver, and a passenger in another car, were also injured.
Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, Nash first studied in Pittsburgh before moving to Princeton.
His recommendation letter contained just one line: "This man is a genius."
Nash married Alicia Larde in 1957, after publishing some of his breakthrough works in game theory, which is the mathematical study of decision-making.
But he developed severe schizophrenia soon after, and Alicia had him committed for psychiatric care several times. The couple divorced in 1962.
"I was disturbed in this way for a very long period of time, like 25 years," Nash said in an interview on the Nobel website.
The two stayed close, and his condition had begun to improve by the 1980s. They remarried in 2001.
The President of Princeton, Christopher Eisgruber, said he was "stunned and saddened" to hear of their deaths.
"John's remarkable achievements inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory," he said.
Even this week, Nash received the Abel Prize, another top honour in the field of mathematics.
Great new mathematical ideas have a balance to strike - they must be precise enough to allow detailed conclusions to be drawn, and yet sufficiently loose that they can be useful in a wide range of problems.
The Nash Equilibrium, for which he won a Nobel Prize, is just such an idea. It offered something truly new - the ability to analyse situations of conflict and co-operation and produce predictions about how people will behave.
Nash's famous equilibrium has grown to be perhaps the most important idea in economic analysis and has found application in fields as diverse as computing, evolutionary biology and artificial intelligence.
More recently it has been used in studies of corruption and also name-checked amidst the Greek financial crisis.
Nash and game theory, by John Moriarty, Manchester University


The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the English estranged wife of a Nigerian oil tycoon in a case lawyers say could have implications for some wealthy divorcing couples.

Michael Prest lost the latest round of a legal fight, which means his wife can now appeal against an earlier ruling.
Judges ruled seven properties at the centre of the dispute could effectively be counted as assets of Mr Prest.
Yasmin Prest said she was "delighted and relieved" by the judgement.
Mr Prest has argued his properties, worth millions of pounds, are not personally owned by him but by off-shore companies.
The High Court had ordered Mr Prest to transfer the properties to his wife, but the Court of Appeal then decided in October that this ruling was wrong.
Mrs Prest then asked the Supreme Court - the highest court in the UK for civil cases - to review the Court of Appeal's decision.
In allowing her appeal, the Supreme Court ruled the homes were "held on trust" for Mr Prest by the companies.
The ruling was a unanimous decision of seven Justices of the Supreme Court.
Yasmin Prest's lawyer Caroline Holley welcomed the verdict.
"The Supreme Court has dealt a blow to dishonest spouses everywhere and taken this important opportunity to send a clear message that those seeking to avoid responsibilities to their divorcing spouses and children will not be allowed to succeed," she said.
The case will be watched by some wealthy couples, particularly those from outside the UK, said William Longrigg, head of the family sector at law firm Charles Russell.
He said the Supreme Court had in this case "shown itself to come down on the side of fairness... in favour of the financially weaker party".
But he said the facts of the case were quite specific, adding: "Assets held by a company will still be regarded as company assets - not those of the husband."
The couple, both in their 50s, married in 1993 and spent most of their time in London.
They had properties in Nigeria and the Caribbean and lived their life to a "very high standard", judges heard.
The court was told Mr Prest claimed to be worth about Â£48m, but Mrs Prest said he could be worth hundreds of millions.
During the legal proceedings, Mr Prest has been criticised for failing to be frank about the true extent of his wealth.
His conduct had been "characterised by persistent obstruction, obfuscation and deceit", Lord Sumption said in his judgement.


Jose Mourinho had brought his third Premier League title to Chelsea - the first since his return for a second spell at Stamford Bridge - and he was putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract.

It was 7 August 2015 and all was right in Chelsea and Mourinho's world. They were favourites to retain their crown and he spoke about building a team that would give Chelsea a 10-year dynasty.
Now 'The Special One' has been sacked by Blues owner Roman Abramovich for a second time after the most spectacular, unexpected decline suffered by any Premier League champions.
So how did it all go wrong for Mourinho in a matter of months?
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Chelsea secured the 2014-15 title with victory over Crystal Palace and with three games to spare.
They were in control of the race from almost the first kick and the eventual margin of triumph was a comfortable eight points from deposed champions Manchester City with only three defeats all season.
Did this margin lead to fatal complacency, not only within Chelsea's boardroom but from Mourinho himself?
Did Chelsea make the same mistakes as Manchester City after winning the Premier League in 2012 when they failed to strengthen their squad sufficiently, bringing in low-key signings such as Brazilian veteran Maicon, Scott Sinclair, Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia? The title was lost to Manchester United in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season.
And did Mourinho and his paymasters fail to heed the warning signs that their rivals - especially City - would be wounded and react in a manner that meant Chelsea needed to build instantly from that position of strength?
City's response to losing the title was to bring in stellar signings, such as £49m Raheem Sterling from Liverpool, £55m Kevin de Bruyne from Wolfsburg and £32m defender Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia.
Chelsea were linked with the likes of Juventus' Paul Pogba and Real Madrid's outstanding young defender Raphael Varane. They did not arrive - City's ruthless ambition left Mourinho standing.
Instead, the pursuit of Everton's England international John Stones became lengthy, acrimonious and eventually doomed as the Merseysiders stood firm - even in the face of a transfer request from the 21-year-old defender.
Pedro did arrive from Barcelona for £21m and left-back Baba Rahman from Augsburg for £21.7m but otherwise - apart from £8m spent on Stoke City keeper Asmir Begovic to replace the departed Petr Cech - it was unimpressive.
Mourinho's squad was fleshed out but not strengthened.
Papy Djilobodji came from Nantes for £4m and Reading's Michael Hector for the same fee. Djilobodji was barely seen and Hector went straight back to the Championship club.
For all the criticism he has received, was Mourinho let down by Abramovich and Chelsea's hierarchy, who failed to deliver the signings, such as Stones, that the manager clearly wanted?
How much did he really want Rahman, hardly a priority at such a huge price with Cesar Azpilicueta doing such an outstanding job at left-back last season?
Rahman came to notice with Ghana under former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, someone who - rather mysteriously given his track record in football - has had the ear of Abramovich in the past.
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And what of Djilobodji? He came from nowhere without serious pedigree and was a player Mourinho admitted was not his choice, though he did say: "It was the choice of someone I trust completely."
Not enough, though, to actually give him a run in the first team.
The loan signing of Radamel Falcao seemed almost an attempt to prove he could succeed where Manchester United and Louis van Gaal failed. He also failed - expensively.
Mourinho's other error came from an understandable desire to renew a Chelsea team he felt was jaded at the end of last season.
For a manager who prides himself on his teams making a fast start to the season, Mourinho's decision to move in a new direction with a shorter pre-season, giving his players a month's holiday and only three matches before the Community Shield loss to Arsenal, holed Chelsea's season below the waterline even before kick-off.
Chelsea did not win any of those pre-season games, which included a 4-2 defeat by New York Red Bulls.
They looked off the pace from the first kick against Swansea City in their opening game and momentum was never gained. Fatally.
Mourinho's hopes of a smooth transition into Chelsea's title defence were derailed from the opening game against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge and a disagreement with team doctor Eva Carneiro that has provided an acrimonious backdrop to the season.
He was furious that, with Chelsea already reduced to 10 men after keeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off, Carneiro and fellow medic Jon Fearn raced on to treat Eden Hazard even though the manager felt it was not required. It was a response that led to Mourinho, angry that his side were briefly reduced to nine men, accusing the medics of being "impulsive and naive".
Both had their positions downgraded but the row with Carneiro rumbled on, with Mourinho criticised by the medical profession, including the Football Medical Association (FMA), which represents medical staff in the sport.
Mourinho was cleared of making discriminatory comments to Carneiro but Football Association chairman Greg Dyke, in a letter to FA council members, said Chelsea's manager had "made a mistake" and should apologise.
As Chelsea and Mourinho's struggles continued - along with his brushes with authority - as did the Carneiro affair.
Carneiro's lawyers are suing Chelsea for constructive dismissal while Mourinho himself is the subject of an individual legal action.
The saga has been referred to on social media as "The Curse Of Eva Carneiro", reflecting on how Chelsea and Mourinho's fortunes plummeted from the moment he crossed swords with the former club doctor.
It set the tone for Mourinho constantly being at odds with authority, particularly when he was given a one-match stadium ban and a £40,000 fine for an expletive-filled rant at referee Jon Moss which led to him being sent off at half-time in the loss at West Ham in October.
Mourinho had an appeal against a £50,000 FA fine and a suspended one-match ban dismissed following his claims after the 3-1 home defeat by Southampton in early October that referees were afraid of giving Chelsea penalties.
Mourinho was locked on course for trouble from day one of the season and it played its part in his downfall.
Sadly, and this is said as someone who has always been an admirer of Mourinho's behaviour and the flourishes he has brought to Chelsea and the Premier League, his actions this season have not been befitting of the club or himself.
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Mourinho's defiance had been one of his trademarks - but as the cracks have appeared in both his and his team's make-up this season he has crossed the border into desperation and delusion.
The first signs all was not well on the field with the champions came in the 3-0 loss to Manchester City in the second game of the season, when they were swept away at the Etihad.
Chelsea were so ill-at-ease Mourinho was forced to substitute the symbol of his methods and successes, captain John Terry, at half-time after he was cruelly exposed by City's pace - to no effect.
And in his post-match inquest, Mourinho chose to claim the result was "fake" and that his team deserved more. The remarks were met with utter bemusement as the only way in which the result was fake was that City would have won by more had it not been for Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic.
It was perhaps a symptom of Mourinho's distraction that he repeated the trick after another comprehensive 3-1 defeat at Everton in September, claiming "the game was completely under control" even when Roberto Martinez's side were two up within 22 minutes.
If it was an act, it was an unconvincing one. If he fooled anyone it was only himself.
And for someone who gloried in describing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as a "voyeur" for his perceived interest in Chelsea and a "specialist in failure", were the tables finally turned? Was Mourinho becoming over-interested in Wenger?
Did he suddenly see Arsenal as a potential threat again?
The pair's frosty relationship was on show in public when Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Community Shield and, again, with the coldest of handshakes before Mourinho's side won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in September.
In one of Mourinho's darkest moments, as he was sent off at half-time in the loss at West Ham, according to the referee Jon Moss's report: "At this point Mr Mourinho became very aggressive. He shouted that you [expletive] referees are weak… Wenger is right about you… you are [expletive] weak."
So had Wenger been playing on his mind?
Chelsea's title triumph last season was built on the reliable old cornerstones of Terry and Branislav Ivanovic in defence, protected by the midfield blanket provided by Nemanja Matic.
The key to success, however, was found in the brilliance of Belgium forward Hazard and the two summer 2014 signings that transformed Chelsea from Mourinho's first season back at Stamford Bridge, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
The decline in performance of that 'Big Six' played a pivotal part in the slide that led to Mourinho's departure.
Father Time appears to have finally caught up with Terry, the former Mourinho "untouchable" who has been left out at stages this season, while Ivanovic's form has fallen off a cliff, despite the manager's continued faith.
Terry, embarrassed by his early substitution at Manchester City, suffered a similar humiliating fate in what proved to be the decisive loss at Leicester on Monday. It was almost a mercy replacement by Mourinho after the 35-year-old had been tormented by the speed and movement of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.
He had been at the heart of Chelsea's successes under Mourinho and to see him humbled and then taken off in such a fashion was symbolic of the wider crisis.
However, it is the failure of the other trio to produce that arguably had the biggest impact.
Hazard was world class in the title season, scoring 14 league goals and creating nine, while Fabregas was the creator supreme with 18 assists. Costa justified every penny of his £32m fee from Atletico Madrid with 20 league goals. Even defender Ivanovic scored four and had five assists.
Hazard's relationship with Mourinho has been the subject of much debate as he has struggled this season. Mourinho suggested Hazard more or less substituted himself at Leicester after the briefest attempt to run off an injury.
Costa has looked sluggish and occasionally overweight, struggling for goals and looking more in the mood for physical confrontation than tangible end product.
He even managed to embroil himself in a row with Mourinho, hurling a bib at his manager when it became clear he was only going to be an unused sub at Spurs in November.
The pair later laughed off the incident but it was the sort of open subordination that has rarely been seen during Mourinho's managerial career.
Fabregas' creative influence has been missed, but the signs were there from the second half of last season when the stats started to stack up against him. He played 18 of Chelsea's first 19 league games and created 13 goals - but in playing 16 out of the last 19 he assisted only five.
When the big players go missing, even a manager of Mourinho's calibre is struggling - and ultimately it was a fight he could not win.
Put together the crucial factors of complacency, the curse of Carneiro and big players going missing, and you concoct a recipe for trouble - and the evidence is most compelling in how Chelsea and Mourinho's infallibility at Stamford Bridge has been stripped away.
In 98 home Premier League games before this season, Mourinho had lost only once - to Sunderland on 19 April 2014. In the title-winning season of 2005-06, Mourinho's Chelsea won 18 games out of 19, a win percentage of 94.74%.
In the first eight home league games this season Chelsea lost four times - to Crystal Palace, Southampton, Liverpool and Premier League newcomers Bournemouth. The contrast was brutal as the Stamford Bridge fear factor evaporated.
Mourinho's successes have been built on that impregnability at home. Once that disappeared, along with poor form on Chelsea's travels, the rot had set in.
Mourinho came out all guns blazing at suggestions he suffers from third-season syndrome - and in his defence he won the FA Cup and League Cup in his third full campaign at Chelsea during his first spell.
What remains in question after his latest departure is whether Mourinho is ever a coach for the long term despite his talk of building for the next decade at Stamford Bridge and penning a new four-year contract at the start of the season.
Mourinho is the man for a quick, hugely successful fix but if a club is looking to build a dynasty then perhaps they should look elsewhere.
Would a manager with a more fixed long-term vision have shown more faith in Romelu Lukaku, still only 22 and sold to Everton for £28m in summer 2014? The young striker now looks what he was designed for when signed by Chelsea - a Didier Drogba in the making.
And there may well be questions about how De Bruyne developed so rapidly at Wolfsburg that the 24-year-old who left Chelsea for £18m in January 2014 ended up as a £55m signing for Manchester City in August 2015.
So is Mourinho simply a short-term strategist?
He lasted three full seasons in his first stint at Chelsea before his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich disintegrated and he was sacked with three years still left on his contract in September 2007.
Mourinho then had two seasons at Inter Milan, leaving - as he did at Porto in 2004 - after winning the Champions League, as well as Serie A for the second successive season and the Italian Cup.
He stayed three more seasons at Real Madrid, winning La Liga in 2011-12.
On 22 May 2012, Mourinho signed a new four-year contract at Real - on 20 May 2013 it was announced he was leaving.
Long-term contracts may be signed but it appears they do not mean longevity for Mourinho.
It seems absurd to be even debating the point about sacking one of the greatest coaches in world football just months after winning the Premier League - but it is symptomatic of modern football and the scale of Chelsea's fall from grace.
And for an owner accused of being trigger happy in the past, especially with the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti, all of Abramovich's instincts were to keep Mourinho and allow him to somehow dig himself out of the hole.
Ultimately, however, he had no choice as Mourinho's relationship with some players clearly became toxic and there was no sign of him being able to navigate a way out of a situation he had never been in before.
In cold terms, the decision is harsh but Abramovich gave Mourinho all the time he could as Champions League football next season - part of Chelsea's fabric - became a distant prospect.
Mourinho, as he turned on his players after the Leicester loss, suggested maybe it was his own brilliance that lifted Chelsea's players above their natural level to win the title last season. That level has dipped dramatically this season - so it can therefore be no surprise 'The Special One' has paid the price.


A listed bridge, blamed for the flooding of a Dorset church last year, has opened after being rebuilt.

English Heritage gave permission for work to be done on the 16th Century Charminster bridge, near Dorchester, after serious flooding in January 2014.
Damage estimated to be about £50,000 was caused to St Mary the Virgin church and nearby homes.
The bridge's original stones were used to enlarge its arches to improve the flow of the River Cerne beneath.
Access through the village has been off limits for five months because of the work, which cost about £260,000.
Dorset County Council has worked with the Environment Agency and English Heritage on the project.
Jill Haynes, councillor for three valleys, said: "I am very impressed with the work that's been done. The bridge looks great, using stone from the original structure."
Additional flood prevention works are due to be carried out over the next few months, the Environment Agency said.
Records show the 16th Century stone bridge was rebuilt in the early 19th Century and at least one side of it was rebuilt in 1933.