Trump backs Venezuelan opposition leader as President

Washington: US President Donald Trump has officially recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate President, a move that forced the South American nation’s incumbent leader Nicolas Maduro to cut “remaining” political and diplomatic ties with Washington

Hours after Trump’a announcement on Wednesday, a defiant Maduro appeared before supporters and accused the US of backing an attempted coup, reports CNN. “We cannot accept the invasive policies of the empire, the US, the policies of Donald Trump,” he said to cheers from the crowd.

“Venezuela is a land of liberators... We will not surrender.”

Maduro also asked American diplomats in Venezuela to leave within 72 hours.

“The imperial government of the US is leading a coup attempt against us in order to install a puppet presidency that they can control in Venezuela,” he added. Maduro and Trump’s announcements came after Guaido on Wednesday told a large crowd of supporters in Caracas that he was assuming the powers of Venezuela’s executive branch and would fight against Maduro’s “usurpation” of the presidency. (IANS)

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