The Latest: Venezuelan Soldiers on Air to Back Maduro

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The Latest on the political crisis in Venezuela for Thursday, January 24 (all times local):

2:40 p.m.
The United States has officially requested an open meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday “to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.”

South Africa’s U.N. Ambassador Jerry Matjila said earlier that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had asked to discuss the political situation with the U.N.’s most powerful body. He said the “consultations” would be behind closed doors—not open.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations tweeted Thursday that it requested a meeting Saturday morning.

The United States has officially requested an open meeting of the UN Security Council for Saturday at 9am to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.

— US Mission to the UN (@USUN) January 24, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday recognized National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president, leading President Nicolás Maduro to demand that all U.S. diplomats leave the country in 72 hours. Pompeo told the diplomats to stay because the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro.

Venezuela is not on the Security Council agenda and the U.S. needs the support of at least nine of the 15 council nations to hold a meeting. Diplomats said the council has not yet discussed the U.S. request.

Before Matjila spoke, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters he didn’t think a meeting is required.

2:30 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his support to embattled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a phone call.

The Kremlin says that Putin “expressed support to the legitimate government of Venezuela amid the acute political crisis that has been provoked from the outside.”

The Russian leader emphasized that “destructive foreign interference tramples on basic norms of the international law.”

The Kremlin statement Thursday said Putin called for “overcoming differences in the Venezuelan society through peaceful dialogue.”

It added that the two leaders underlined a shared intention to “continue the Russian-Venezuelan cooperation in various spheres.”

Russia had already denounced the U.S. decision to recognize an opposition leader at Venezuela’s legitimate president, calling it an attempted coup.

Russia has been a key sponsor and ally of Venezuela, and last month it deployed two Tu-160 nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela for several days.

1:45 p.m.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States is ready to send Venezuela food and medicine in response to requests from the opposition-controlled congress.

Pompeo on Thursday urged other countries to step up and help Venezuelans rebuild a country he says has been destroyed by President Nicolás Maduro’s “illegitimate” government.

The United States and several other countries have recognized National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela.

Guaidó declared presidential powers on Wednesday, vowing to restore democracy.

Pompeo says the United States is ready to ship more than $20 million in humanitarian assistance to help Venezuelans suffering dire shortages in a deepening crisis.

Maduro’s government for years has rejected most foreign assistance, saying it is a cover for foreign powers to launch an invasion.

1:30 p.m.
The Vatican says Pope Francis is closely following developments in Venezuela and supports “all efforts that help save the population from further suffering”.

A statement from Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti on Thursday didn’t say if the Holy See recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s claim to the interim presidency.

Francis is nearby on a visit to Panama for World Youth Day.

The statement said the pope “is praying for the victims and for all the people of Venezuela.” It adds that “the Holy See supports all efforts that help save the population from further suffering”.

The Vatican has a delicate line to balance in Venezuela. Local bishops vocally oppose the socialist regime of President Nicolás Maduro, but the Holy See has kept up diplomatic relations with the government, to the extent that it sent its interim charge d’affaires to Maduro’s inauguration earlier this month.

1 p.m.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he’s shocked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Malta’s president on Thursday, Erdogan reiterated his support for embattled President Nicolás Maduro.

Erdogan said he believed Maduro would overcome the crisis and would receive the people’s backing “if he continues to stand strong in the path he believes in.”

Erdogan also said Maduro didn’t delay in calling and visiting Turkey to offer his support soon after Turkey thwarted a coup attempt in 2016.

12:45 p.m.
South Africa’s U.N. ambassador says U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked to discuss the political situation in Venezuela with the U.N. Security Council in closed consultations on Saturday morning.

Jerry Matjila told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York on Thursday that the council would discuss whether the situation in Venezuela poses a threat to international peace and security.

Venezuela is not on the Security Council agenda and the U.S. needs the support of at least nine of the 15 council nations to hold a meeting.

Before Matjila spoke, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters he didn’t think such a meeting was required.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday recognized National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president, leading President Nicolás Maduro to demand that all U.S. diplomats leave the country in 72 hours. Pompeo told the diplomats to stay because the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro.

Matjila said South Africa still recognizes the Maduro government. He called the situation in Venezuela “very delicate,” and encouraged Venezuelans “to sit together and discuss among themselves to see what they can do.”

12:30 p.m.
Britain’s foreign secretary says Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaidó is “the right person” to take the troubled country forward.

Jeremy Hunt said Thursday during a visit to Washington that the May 20 election in Venezuela was “deeply flawed” and said the regime led by President Nicholas Maduro has done “untold damage to the people of Venezuela.”

Hunt said it is clear that Maduro is not the “legitimate” leader of Venezuela. But the statement stops short of recognizing Guaidó as president.

Hunt says he plans to discuss the matter with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

12:20 p.m.
The chief of Venezuela’s military has reaffirmed his support for President Nicolás Maduro, saying the armed forces will never accept a leader imposed on their country.

The televised statement by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López on Thursday is part of a show of military support for Maduro in the face of faltering international recognition of his government.

Opposition lawmaker Juan Guaidó has declared himself Venezuela’s interim president, promising to restore democracy to Venezuela.

Padrino López said dark interests are working outside Venezuela’s constitution, emboldening the opposition’s rise.

He says his soldiers would be unworthy of their uniform if they fail to defend the constitution.

The United States, Canada and some Latin American and European countries have recognized Guaidó’s claim that the constitution gives him the authority to assume power.

10:05 a.m.
Military commanders across Venezuela are taking to the airwaves to vow loyalty to embattled President Nicolás Maduro.

Major General Víctor Palacio said Thursday he categorically rejected any acts threatening stability in Venezuela.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó a day earlier spoke to masses of supporters crowding the streets of Caracas that he’s assuming the presidency.

He called for new elections to restore democracy and appealed to members of the military to reject what he called Maduro’s dictatorship.

Palacio is one of several generals who have been appearing on state TV, standing before dozens of soldiers in a show of military support.

Major General Manuel Gregorio Bernal also backed Maduro, saying the president represents an independent country in the face of imperialist aggression.

9:25 a.m.
Venezuela’s closest ally says it backs socialist President Nicolás Maduro against what it calls a “coup d’etat” to impose “a servile government under orders from the United States.”

Cuba’s foreign ministry says Cuba “expresses its unwavering solidarity with the government of the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro Moros.”

Cuba has sent Venezuela tens of thousands of workers, from doctors to intelligence officials, to support former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Maduro, his successor.

In return, the economically struggling island receives tens of thousands of barrels a day in heavily subsidized oil.

Anti-Maduro National Assembly President Juan Guaidó asserts that he’s Venezuela’s interim president under the constitution.

9:00 a.m.
A Venezuelan monitoring group says at least a dozen people have been killed by gunfire in a wave of anti-government unrest rocking Venezuela, where a young opposition leader and socialist President Nicolás Maduro both claim to be chief of state.

Coordinator Marco Ponce with the non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict gave the death toll and names of those reported slain to the Associated Press on Thursday.

Seven deaths had been reported earlier.

For a third consecutive night, there were reports of looting in poor neighborhoods in Caracas and clashes between protesters and state security forces.

Amnesty International is calling on Maduro to uphold demonstrators’ rights and immediately remove any military or police offers involved in repression.

The troubled South American nation has plunged into a new chapter of uncertainty following Wednesday’s mass protests and competing claims to the presidency.

8:50 a.m.
The German government is backing the opposition-led National Assembly in Venezuela, while calling for “free and credible elections” in the country.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Thursday on Twitter that “the people of Venezuela are bravely working for a free future for their country.”

Seibert said “this now requires a political process that results in free and credible elections.”
He added that “the democratically elected National Assembly should have a special role here.”

8:20 a.m.
The U.N. chief has called for dialogue and says violence or escalation should be avoided after the United States, many Latin American countries and others recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s president.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was asked to comment about Venezuela at the World Economic Forum after many of its closest neighbors issued the rebuff to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a day earlier.

Guterres said simply: “It is absolutely essential to have dialogue, to avoid violence and to avoid escalation.” He did not elaborate.

7:50 a.m.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is holding talks on Venezuela with Latin American leaders in the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Sánchez’s office also said the leader has scheduled a phone call with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, a long-time socialist, says Nicolás Maduro’s government is illegitimate but declined to follow other world leaders in endorsing Guaidó.

“We don’t know how, but we are going to procure free and fair elections in Venezuela,” Borrell has told reporters on Thursday.

Spain was among European countries that until earlier this week was promoting an international mediation between Maduro’s administration and the opposition. But Borrell says now that “the situation has changed radically.”

He also said the government’s top priority was to ensure the safety of more than 200,000 Spaniards living in Venezuela.

7:30 a.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron says that the May 2018 election of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was “illegitimate” and saluted the bravery of Venezuelans who are demanding freedom.
In a tweet on Thursday in French and Spanish, Macron added his own voice to the European Union’s declared support for the restoration of democracy.

Macron said that he “salutes the courage of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans marching for their liberty.”

The EU is calling for the launch of a political process in Venezuela that would lead to fresh elections after opposition leader Juan Guaidó claimed the presidency amid anti-government protests.

7:20 a.m.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey opposes coup attempts wherever they may occur.

Erdogan, who did not directly reference Venezuela, made the comments at a military academy Thursday hours after he spoke with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.

Earlier, Erdogan’s spokesman said that the Turkish leader told Maduro in a phone call: “My brother Maduro! Stay strong, we are by your side.”

Erdogan said: “As a country that believes in democracy, as a president who believes in democracy … where ever in the world there is a coup attempt, we stand against them all without distinction.”
He added: “Everyone has to respect the result of the ballot boxes.”

Erdogan, whom critics accuse of increasingly autocratic tendencies, survived a coup attempt in 2016.

7:10 a.m.
Ecuador’s foreign minister says his country opposes possible military action in Venezuela against President Nicolás Maduro’s government, insisting it would have “mostly negative impacts.”

Ecuador has joined many fellow Latin American countries, the United States and others that have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s president in the face of Venezuela’s political and economic crisis under Maduro.

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister José Valencia told a panel session at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ecuador would disagree with the military option.

Valencia was asked to comment Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said “options are on the table” a day earlier in response to a question whether the U.S. was contemplating military action in Venezuela.

Valencia said: “I wouldn’t think that it would be a way out of the situation. You have to give the Venezuelan people the opportunity to decide by themselves.”

Ecuador said in October it has granted visas to 90,000 Venezuelans fleeing their country.

7 a.m.
Syria has condemned what it describes as “flagrant intervention” by the U.S. in Venezuela’s internal affairs.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the American backing of the opposition’s claim to the presidency in Venezuela constitutes a “violation of international laws and norms.”

The ministry says Damascus renews its “full solidarity with the leadership and people of the Venezuelan Republic in preserving the country’s sovereignty and foiling the American administration’s hostile plans.”

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is a strong ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Maduro visited Syria as foreign minister in 2011, months after the Arab country’s conflict began. Assad visited Venezuela in 2010.

A large Syrian community lives in Venezuela.

6:50 a.m.
The Kremlin has dismissed the political crisis in Venezuela as an attempted coup and expressed concern over suggestions of possible foreign military intervention.

Russia is a key ally of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in for his second term in office earlier this month. Maduro’s rival Juan Gauidó on Wednesday declared himself interim president before masses of demonstrators in Caracas.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday dismissed Gauido’s announcement an “attempt to usurp power” which violates international law. He also said the Kremlin was concerned about statements “from foreign nations” ”which do not rule out foreign intervention.”

Asked if Russia would be willing to grant asylum to Maduro, Peskov said that Maduro is the legitimate leader.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement issued earlier on Thursday said that the crisis in Venezuela “has reached a dangerous point” and called on the international community to mediate between the government and the opposition.

6:45 a.m.
Portugal’s foreign minister is calling for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to “understand that his time has come to an end,” after opposition leader Juan Guaidó claimed the country’s presidency.
Augusto Santos Silva told the Portuguese news agency LUSA, in comments published by daily Observador, that Maduro “cannot ignore the will of the people.”

Portugal has previously taken a careful approach to events in Venezuela, wary of doing anything that might cause problems for the large Portuguese community there.

Santos Silva appealed for a peaceful end to the standoff and called for free elections.

6:30 a.m.
The European Union is calling for the launch of a political process in Venezuela that would lead to fresh elections after opposition leader Juan Guaidó claimed the presidency amid anti-government protests.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherni said in a statement Thursday that the voice of Venezuelans calling for democracy “cannot be ignored.”

Mogherini says that “the EU strongly calls for the start of an immediate political process leading to free and credible elections, in conformity with the constitutional order.”

She says the EU backs Venezuela’s national assembly and that its powers should be restored and respected.

Mogherini is calling for the safety and rights of lawmakers and Guaidó to be protected, and says the 28-nation EU stands ready to help support a return to democracy and the rule of law.

6:05 a.m.
China is calling on the United States to stay out of Venezuela’s current political crisis and says it opposes all outside intervention in the South American country.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Thursday that all parties to the conflict should “remain rational and level-headed and seek a political resolution on the Venezuelan issue through peaceful dialogue within the framework of the Venezuelan Constitution.”

Hua said China “opposes external intervention in Venezuela. We hope that the international community will jointly create favorable conditions for this.”

She said: “We hope that Venezuela and the United States can respect and treat each other on an equal footing, and deal with their relations based on non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.”
Over the last decade, China has given Venezuela $65 billion in loans, cash and investment. Venezuela owes more than $20 billion.

China’s only hope of being repaid appears to lie in Venezuela ramping up oil production, although low petroleum prices and the country’s crashing economy appear to bode poorly for such an outcome.

5:35 a.m.
Iran has denounced events in Venezuela, saying the opposition’s claim there that it holds the presidency is a “coup” and an attempt to take over power unlawfully.

In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told reporters on Thursday that the “Islamic Republic of Iran supports the government and people of Venezuela against any sort of foreign intervention and any illegitimate and illegal action such as attempt to make a coup d’etat.”

His remarks were carried by the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Ghasemi also condemned what he said is an open and illegal intervention in Venezuela by the U.S. and added hopes that the Venezuelan people will overcome their political rifts and problems through peaceful and legal means.

Tehran has long been an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

5:10 a.m.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom says “the people’s right to peacefully demonstrate and freely choose its leaders must be respected” in Venezuela after sometimes violent rallies in the wake of opposition leader Juan Guaidó claiming the presidency.

Wallstrom has tweeted that “all violence and the excessive use of force are unacceptable. Democracy must be restored.”

Her Danish counterpart Anders Samuelsen says Denmark “will always support legitimate elected democratic institutions—not least the parliamentary assembly including @jguaido Juan Guaido.”

The opposition leader had declared himself interim president before a mass of demonstrators in Caracas, saying the “dictatorship” of socialist President Nicolás Maduro should end.

Violence flared again Wednesday across Venezuela, and at least seven deaths were reported in the escalating confrontation with Maduro, who has been increasingly criticized by many nations. Russia, Turkey and other nations support Maduro.

4 a.m.
Russian officials and senior lawmakers have reacted angrily to opposition protests in Venezuela that support opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency.

Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the information committee at the Federation Council, on Thursday called Guaido’s declaration “an attempted coup” backed by the U.S.

Russia has been propping up incumbent President Nicolás Maduro, who took office for a second term earlier this month, with arms deliveries and loans. Maduro visited Moscow in December, seeking Russia’s political support and financial support.

“It’s impossible to imagine that this was spontaneous,” Pushkov said on state-owned Rossiya 24 television station, referring to the opposition protests. “That was a pre-planned action, and it was certainly coordinated by the United States.”

President Donald Trump has promised to use the “full weight” of U.S. economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration of Venezuela’s democracy.

Pushkov warned that the showdown between Maduro and Guaidó “could lead to a civil conflict, even civil war.”

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, in a Facebook post on Thursday accused the U.S. of “inciting protests” in Venezuela.

3:50 a.m.
A senior official says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolás Maduro, to voice his support after the leader of a united opposition claimed to hold the interim presidency.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted early Thursday that Erdogan told Maduro: “‘My brother Maduro! Stay strong, we are by your side.'”

Kalin added that Turkey, under Erdogan’s leadership, would “maintain its principled stance against coup attempts.”

Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president before a mass of demonstrators in Caracas on Wednesday. The U.S., Canada and another dozen mostly Latin American countries quickly announced that they supported Guaidó’s claim to the presidency.

Turkey has cultivated close economic and political ties with Maduro. During a visit to Venezuela in December, Erdogan criticized U.S. sanctions on the crisis-ridden country.

1 a.m.
Australia is considering recognizing the rival claimant to Venezuela’s presidency after the United States and many Latin American did so.

Congress leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself interim president and said it was the only way to end President Nicolás Maduro’s “dictatorship.”

After the U.S. and others announced their support for Guaidó, Maduro fired back late Wednesday by breaking relations with the U.S. and ordering its diplomats to leave. Washington says it will ignore the order.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Thursday that her government is considering recognizing Guaidó as president.

She told reporters in Sydney that Australia was concerned about what the “clearly deteriorating political, economic and security and humanitarian situation in Venezuela and it is having significant effects across the Latin American region.”

12:15 a.m.
Venezuelans are heading into uncharted political waters, with the young leader of a newly united and combative opposition claiming the presidency and socialist President Nicolás Maduro digging in for a fight with the Trump administration.

Violence flared again Wednesday during big protests across Venezuela, and at least seven deaths were reported in the escalating confrontation with Maduro, who has been increasingly criticized by many nations.

Congress leader Juan Guaidó turned up the heat by declaring himself interim president before a mass of demonstrators in Caracas. He said it is the only way to end Maduro’s “dictatorship.”

The U.S., Canada and many Latin American countries quickly announced support for Guaidó.

Maduro fired back by breaking relations with the U.S. and ordering its diplomats out. Washington says it will ignore the order.