Venezuela’s Guaido hails “international coalition” of support
Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido on Wednesday hailed an “international coalition” of support for elections in the country, following a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The White House said Trump and Juan Guaido, the opposition leader trying to replace Maduro, agreed to maintain regular communication after Venezuelan authorities opened an investigation that could lead to Guaido’s arrest.
The moves against Guaido, 35, including a travel ban and assets freeze, were in retaliation for oil sanctions imposed by the United States this week. They intensified the fight to control Venezuela, an OPEC nation that has the world’s largest oil reserves.
Maduro, 56, has accused Trump of ordering his assassination, while his main global backer Russia called on Wednesday for mediation in a stand-off that is splitting foreign powers.
Russia, which like China has loaned and invested billions of dollars in OPEC member Venezuela, called on Guaido to drop his demand for a snap election and instead accept mediation. However, given the failure of previous rounds of dialogue between the government and opposition, including one led by the Vatican, opponents are suspicious, believing Maduro uses them to quell protests and buy time.
Guaido, an opposition lawmaker who is president of the National Assembly, has been recognised as president by the United States and most Western Hemisphere nations. He says Maduro fraudulently won elections last year and is offering an amnesty to military officials.
Guaido is calling for a mass march at the weekend against Maduro. More than 40 people have died so far in and around the protests that began a week ago, the U.N. human rights office said. Hundreds have also been arrested, including children.
Government supporters have also attended large rallies led by Maduro allies, while the president visited military bases in recent days. He ordered the creation of 50,000 popular defence units, community groups charged with the “integral defence of the fatherland.”
