After the termination of diplomatic relations with the United States has given the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, the US diplomats have until Sunday to leave the South American country. US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo countered the instructions of the socialists are irrelevant, since the US-approved government. “Who do you think you are?”, Maduro asked on Thursday applied in a speech before the Supreme court. “Do you think you would have a colonial enclave in Venezuela?”
The day before had Parliament chief Juan Guaidó himself the interim President declared, and thus Maduro openly challenged. The USA, the EU and many Latin American countries recognized the President as the legitimate head of state. Maduro, in contrast, can count on the support of the powerful military and its allies in Russia, Iran, Turkey, Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua.
On Thursday, the opponents brought in position. “The armed forces will never accept a President that is used by dark powers, or off of the Right of self-use”, said the Minister of defense Vladimir Padrino. “We recognize our chief commander Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate President.”
The fear of a civil war
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Guaidó found, however, in his new role as interim President is already a request for humanitarian aid from the United States. He please to the delivery of food, medicines and medical articles, he wrote on Thursday to U.S. Secretary of state Pompeo. Also sending a hospital ship would be desirable. Previously, Pompeo had already made the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as soon as logistically possible. The United States is prepared to send 20 million dollars for food and medicine, he said.
in view of the stalemate situation, the Venezuelan military warned of a violent solution to the conflict. “A civil war will not solve the problems of Venezuela”, said the Minister of defense Vladimir Padrino. The need for a Dialogue between the government and the Opposition, “because a war is not our choice, but an Instrument of stateless fellows, who don’t know what that means.”
For mass protests on Wednesday, it was already bloody conflict. The police fired tear gas grenades and rubber bullets into the crowd. Masked demonstrators hurled stones at the officers. At least 26 people were killed, said the Observatory for social conflict (OVCS) on Thursday afternoon (local time). According to the human rights organisation Foro Penal were also 332 people.
Maas: “We are not neutral”
foreign Minister Heiko Maas was clearly on the side of the self-appointed against President Guaidó. “We are not neutral in this question, but we support what Guaidó doing there,” said the SPD politician on Thursday to Deutsche Welle, during a visit to the United Nations in New York. Germany had big problems, to recognise the election of Maduro as President. “It is obvious that there are so many violations of the right to vote has been given, that one can only speak conditionally of a democratic election.” Therefore, the Federal government was campaigning for re-election.
Similarly, the European Union in Brussels, said. The EU must be produced in support of Guaidó led national Assembly “as a democratically elected Institution, their powers and respected,” said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. A political process must lead to trusted “to be free and credible elections”, “in accordance with the Constitution.” EU Council President Donald Tusk wrote on Twitter: “In contrast to Maduro, the Parliament, Juan Guaidó included, has a democratic mandate from the Venezuelan citizens.”
Russia and China warn the US against meddling
Russia denounced on Thursday U.S. support for Guaidó. “This instant recognition only aims to reinforce the division of society of Venezuela and the destabilization of the internal political Situation,” said the foreign Ministry in Moscow. Washington ignored the norms and principles of international law. China called on in the power struggle in Venezuela for restraint and warned the US not to interfere. All of the pages of a military Intervention decisively rejected in Venezuela, said foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. Sanctions would not help to “solve practical problems”.
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South America Russia warns US against military intervention in Venezuela
Venezuela, which has around 30 million inhabitants, has long been in a deep political and economic crisis. Many government opponents are in prison or life in exile. Due to a shortage of foreign exchange, the once-rich country is hardly a food you can import, medicines and things of daily needs. Around three million Venezuelans have already fled abroad. (dpa)
