Venezuela was plunged into heightened chaos on Tuesday after self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido said he had the support of troops to oust President Nicolas Maduro, while the government denounced what it called an attempted coup.
Following are some initial reactions from world governments:
– ‘Democracy cannot be defeated’ –
The White House urged Venezuela’s armed forces to stand by the country’s “legitimate institutions.”
President Donald Trump’s administration has been waging a mounting pressure campaign to oust Maduro and install Guaido, who is recognized as acting president by more than 50 countries, including many in Latin America.
“The US Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy. Democracy cannot be defeated,” United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter.
– ‘Right side of history’ –
Colombia’s President Ivan Duque called on Twitter for “soldiers and the people of Venezuela to place themselves on the right side of history, rejecting dictatorship and Maduro’s usurpation”.
Colombia also said it was calling an emergency meeting of the Lima Group — a grouping of major Latin American nations plus Canada focused on Venezuela.
– ‘Beholden to foreign interests’ –
Bolivian President Evo Morales “vigorously” condemned the “attempted coup in Venezuela by the right-wing that is beholden to foreign interests”.
He said he was sure that “the brave Bolivarian Revolution led by brother Nicolas Maduro will beat this new attack by the empire (the US)”.
– ‘No bloodshed’ –
“We strongly hope that there will be no bloodshed,” Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa told reporters.
She called for “democratic elections” and said Madrid supports a peaceful outcome to the Venezuela crisis.
Spain has thrown its support behind Guaido, whom it recognises as interim leader of economically-strapped Venezuela over President Nicolas Maduro.
Celaa said Madrid thinks he “is legitimate to carry out the transformation of Venezuela”.
But she added: “Spain is not supporting any military coup.”
– Venezuelans ‘deserve better’ –
“We have been clear that the UK, alongside its international partners, recognises Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela until credible presidential elections can be held,” a spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said.
“Our focus is on a peaceful resolution to the crisis and the restoration of Venezuelan democracy. Venezuelan people deserve a better future, they have suffered enough and the Maduro regime must end.”
– ‘Subversive movement’ –
“We reject this coup movement that aims to fuel violence in the country,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Twitter.
“The traitors that have put themselves at the head of this subversive movement are using troops and soldiers with heavy weapons in a public area of the city to create panic and terror.”
– Release hailed –
A European Commission spokeswoman said it was following developments but declined to comment on the fast-developing situation beyond repeating the bloc’s long-standing call for “political and peaceful solution” and “free and fair elections”.
However, European Parliament speaker Antonio Tajani hailed the release of leading Venezuelan opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez from house arrest as a “historic moment”.
Lopez is a winner of the Sakharov Prize, an annual human rights award presented by the European Parliament.
© Agence France-Presse
