CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuelans headed into uncharted political waters today, with the young leader of a newly united and combative opposition claiming to hold the presidency and socialist President Nicolas Maduro digging in for a fight with the Trump administration.
Violence flared again Wednesday during big anti-government demonstrations across Venezuela, and at least seven protesters were reported killed in the escalating confrontation with Maduro, who has been increasingly accused of undemocratic behavior by the United States and many other nations in the region.
Juan Guaido, the new leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, 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 the Maduro dictatorship in Venezuela, which has seen millions flee in recent years to escape sky-high inflation and food shortages.
We know that this will have consequences, Guaido shouted to the cheering crowd, then slipped away to an unknown location amid speculation that he would soon be arrested.
In a united and seemingly coordinated front, the U.S., Canada and some Latin American and European countries announced that they supported Guaidos claim to the presidency.
But Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba and Turkey have voiced their backing for Maduros government.
President Donald Trump promised to use the full weight of U.S. economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration of Venezuelas democracy. The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law, he said in a statement.
Maduro fired back by breaking diplomatic relations with the U.S., the biggest trading partner for the oil-exporting country, and ordering American diplomats to get out of the country within 72 hours. Washington said it would ignore the order.
The socialist leader, who so far has been backed by the military, as well as the government-packed courts and a constituent assembly, recalled the long history of heavy-handed U.S. interventions in Latin America during the Cold War as he asked his allies for support.
Dont trust the gringos, he thundered to a crowd of red-shirted supporters gathered at the presidential palace. They dont have friends or loyalties. They only have interests, guts and the ambition to take Venezuelas oil, gas and gold.
Chinas Foreign Ministry called on the United States to stay out of the crisis, while Russias deputy foreign minister warned the U.S. against any military intervention in Venezuela.
Some Russian officials reacted with anger to the opposition protests. Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the information committee at the Russian Federation Council, called Guaidos declaration an attempted coup backed by the U.S.
Russia has been propping up Maduro with arms deliveries and loans. Maduro visited Moscow in December, seeking Russias political and financial support. Over the last decade, China has given Venezuela $65 billion in loans, cash and investment. Venezuela owes more than $20 billion.
On Thursday, attention will shift to Washington, where diplomats at the Organization of American States will hold an emergency meeting on the Venezuelan situation. The debate promises to be charged, and the National Assemblys newly picked diplomatic envoy will be lobbying to take Venezuelas seat from Maduros ambassador.
Meanwhile, many Venezuelans will be looking for Guaido to re-emerge and provide guidance on the oppositions next steps. The armed forces top command, which has so far remained silent, is also expected to issue a statement, although nobody expects the generals loyalties to Maduro to have shifted.
The price of oil slipped for the third time in four days Wednesday, an indication that international energy markets are not overly concerned yet that the situation in Venezuela Americas third top oil supplier and owner of Houston-based Citgo will disrupt global crude supplies.
