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Agence France-Presse

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro prepared to rally his military supporters Thursday as the US and key allies backed a challenge from his leading rival who declared himself “acting president”.
The announcement by Juan Guaido, 35, head of Venezuela’s opposition-led legislature, came amid a fresh wave of deadly street clashes on Wednesday.
He declared himself acting leader of the oil-rich nation, which has lurched into economic chaos and violence under Maduro, 56.
The Socialist government responded by warning that the top military leadership would come out Thursday “in support of the constitutional president”, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said.


He added the military would show “backing for the sovereignty” of Venezuela.
That was a warning shot to Maduro’s foreign critics as they rallied behind Guaido.
US President Donald Trump declared Maduro “illegitimate” and called the National Assembly legislature “the only legitimate branch of government”.
A furious Maduro responded to the US move by breaking off diplomatic ties with the “imperialist” US government, giving its diplomats 72 hours to leave.
The US State Department said it did not recognise Maduro as president any more so his order meant nothing.
Rival mass protests in Venezuela stoke political tensions after failed mutiny
Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at opposition protesters in one Caracas suburb, while television pictures also showed armoured vehicles in the capital.
Thousands of Maduro supporters, many wearing red, converged outside the presidential palace, Miraflores, to oppose what they said was a US-backed opposition coup attempt.
Elsewhere in Caracas, tens of thousands of opposition supporters rallied, dressed in white and waving Venezuelan flags.
“Guaido, friend, the people are with you,” they chanted.
Maduro hit back in a speech from a balcony at the presidential palace, lashing out at Trump.
He condemned what he called the US leader’s “extremist policy” as “a very serious folly”.
“Trying to impose a government by extra-constitutional means, we cannot accept that.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appealed for dialogue to avoid the political crisis spiralling out of control.
“What we hope is that dialogue can be possible, and that we avoid an escalation that would lead to the kind of conflict that would be a disaster for the people of Venezuela and for the region,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Maduro was re-elected in May in snap elections boycotted by the opposition and denounced around the world as illegitimate.

He has held onto power in the face of mass protests, international pressure and opposition efforts to oust him.
Analysts at the Eurasia Group consultancy said his opponents could only prevail if the top military command abandon him.
They said Trump might consider further economic sanctions against Venezuela, from which the United States buys more than a million barrels of oil a day.
Guaido called on the military to join “the side of the constitution” and offered an amnesty to any Maduro allies who would defect.
He was elected president of the National Assembly – the only major state pillar not controlled by the government – in December.
Since then, he has managed to rally a divided opposition.
“I have faith and hope in Guaido, a young lad who can help us to go forward,” one demonstrator in Caracas, 49-year-old Florangel Rodriguez told AFP.
Venezuela says rogue officers captured, military bases under control
Maduro has presided over a deepening economic crisis that has left millions in poverty as the country faces shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine.
Some 2.3 million people have fled the country since 2015, according to the United Nations. The International Monetary Fund says inflation will hit 10 million per cent this year.
Guaido called for the protests two weeks ago in a bid to rally support behind his aim to remove Maduro, set up a transitional government and hold elections.
A dozen regional players have also backed Guaido, including Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Canada.
Mexico and Cuba stood firm in support of Maduro.
Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said fresh elections in Venezuela were the “only way out” of the crisis.


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Venezuela

Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido declares himself president and is recognised by Donald Trump, as pressure mounts on Nicolas Maduro

Security forces look on while clashing with opposition supporters participating in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez in Tachira, Venezuela January 23, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez

Juan Guaido, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly, greets supporters during a rally in Caracas on Wednesday where he declared himself the country’s interim president. Photo: Reuters

Rival mass protests in Venezuela stoke political tensions after failed mutiny

Riot policemen on a motorcycle during clashes with anti-government demonstrators in Caracas, on January 21, when a group of soldiers rose up against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 09, 2019 (FILES) In this file photo taken on January 9, 2019 US Vice President Mike Pence speaks to the media following a meeting between Democratic leaders and US President Donald Trump about the partial government shutdown at the White House in Washington, DC. - US Vice President Mike Pence issued a rallying cry January 22, 2019 to opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the eve of planned protest marches."As the good people of Venezuela make your voices heard tomorrow, on behalf of the American people, we say: estamos con ustedes. We are with you," Pence tweeted."We stand with you, and we will stay with you until Democracy is restored and you reclaim your birthright of Libertad." (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Juan Guaido, President of the Venezuela's National Assembly, attends a session in Caracas, Venezuela January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

TOPSHOT - Riot police hold a shield during clashes with anti-government demonstrators in the neighborhood of Los Mecedores, in Caracas, on January 21, 2019. - A group of soldiers rose up against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at a command post in northern Caracas on Monday, but were quickly arrested after posting an appeal for public support in a video, the government said. (Photo by Federico Parra / AFP)

TOPSHOT - People protest around the Cotiza Bolivarian National Guard headquarter in Caracas, Venezuela on January 21, 2019. - Venezuela military group calls in video for not recognizing Maduro (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

Carmen Marcano, a Cotiza neighborhood resident, shows her wounds caused by rubber bullets fired by Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guardsmen during a protest, a day prior, in response to the arrest of National Guardsmen who mounted an uprising against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. Working class neighborhoods in Venezuela's capital sifted through charred rubble and smoldering trash on Tuesday, after isolated protests erupted in the streets Monday. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, attend a meeting with supporters in Caracas, Venezuela January 22, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Rogue Venezuelan  officers who kidnapped officials and stole weapons have been captured, government says

Members of the Bolivarian National Guard remain inside Cotiza Bolivarian National Guard headquarter in Caracas, Venezuela on January 21, 2018. - Venezuela military group calls in video for not recognizing Maduro (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

Protesters demonstrate in front of the Cotiza Bolivarian National Guard headquarter in Caracas, Venezuela on January 21, 2018. - Venezuela military group calls in video for not recognizing Maduro. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

Members of the Bolivarian National Guard trough tear gas againts protesters near the Cotiza Bolivarian National Guard headquarter in Caracas, Venezuela on January 21, 2018. - Venezuela military group calls in video for not recognizing Maduro (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

Protesters demonstrate against Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in front of the Cotiza Bolivarian National Guard headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela on January 21, 2018. Photo: AFP

Mexico shuns attempt by neighbouring countries to dissuade Nicolas Maduro from taking office in Venezuela

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: Bloomberg

Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido addresses rally after brief detention

Venezuela’s National Assembly president Juan Guaido, accompanied by his wife Fabiana Rosales gestures before a crowd of opposition supporters during an open meeting in Caraballeda, Vargas State, Venezuela, on January 13, 2019. Photo: AFP

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, top left, is surrounded by bodyguards as he leaves an opposition rally where he spoke in Caraballeda, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. The new head of Venezuela's increasingly defiant congress was pulled from his vehicle and briefly detained by police Sunday, a day after the U.S. backed him assuming the presidency as a way out of the country's deepening crisis. Guaido's wife Fabiana Rosales stands next to him, right. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Venezuela's National Assembly president Juan Guaido (C) embraces his wife Fabiana Rosales (R) and his mother as they are surrounded by opposition supporters during an open meeting in Caraballeda, Vargas State, Venezuela, on January 13, 2019. - The president of the opposition-controlled but sidelined National Assembly was released less than an hour after being arrested by Venezuelan intelligence agents on Sunday, his wife said. Guaido had directly challenged the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro as the president was sworn in for a second term on Thursday, calling for a transitional government ahead of new elections. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)

US in ‘hysterics’ after Russian nuclear-capable bombers land in Venezuela

epa07224480 A handout picture made available on 11 December 2018 by the press office of the Venezuelan Defence Ministry, shows the Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez (L) inspects a fighter jet model, as he receives a Russian military delegation in Maiquetia, Venezuela, 10 December 2018. According to Padrino, Venezuelan and Russian Governments prepare the defense of the South American country, to face an eventual armed attack, with the execution of maneuvers that include 'combined operational flights'. EPA-EFE/VENEZUELA DEFENCE MINISTRY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Four Russian military aircrafts, including two Tu-160 (Blackjack) bombers, one An-124 (Condor) heavy-lift cargo airplane and an IL-62 (Classic) passenger aircraft are seen in this DigitalGlobe satellite image at Simon Bolivar Airport in Maiquetia, Vargas, located about 21 kilometres from downtown Caracas, Venezuela in this December 10, 2018 image released on December 11, 2018. Courtesy Satellite image ©2018DigitalGlobe, a Maxar company/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.

The two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic long-range heavy supersonic bomber aircraft in Venezuela. Photo: AFP

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Juan Guaido swore himself in as interim president before a cheering crowd, as hundreds of thousands protested to end the rule of Nicolas Maduro
Maduro cut diplomatic ties with the US and gave its diplomats 72 hours to leave the country


Juan Guaido swore himself in as interim president before a cheering crowd, as hundreds of thousands protested to end the rule of Nicolas Maduro, who cut diplomatic ties with the US and gave its diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.


Venezuelan crisis

Donald Trump

Americas and the Caribbean