MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has broken the diplomatic relations with the United States. Maduro gave American diplomats three days to leave the country.
The move follows after White House’s decision to recognize the opposition leader as interim president.
“Before the people and nations of the world, and as constitutional president, I’ve decided to break diplomatic and political relations with the imperialist US government,” Mr. Maduro told a crowd of supporters gathered at the presidential palace in the capital, Caracas.
He made the announcement after a day that saw Juan Guaido, the head of the opposition-controlled congress, declare himself interim president.
US president, Donald Trump publicly recognized him as the country’s interim president. In response, Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with the United States and gave US diplomats 72 hours to get out of his country.
Venezuela’s constitution says if the presidency is determined to be vacant, new elections should be called in 30 days and that the head of Congress should assume the presidency in the meantime.
However, the pro-government Supreme Court has ruled that all actions taken by Congress are null and void and Maduro’s government has accused Guaido of staging a coup and threatened him with jail.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino says via Twitter on Wednesday that the country’s armed forces disavow any president who is self-proclaimed or imposed by “dark interests”.
Padrino vows that the armed forces will defend Venezuela’s constitution and national sovereignty.
Following Washington’s move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses solidarity with Maduro.
“Maduro brother, stand tall, Turkey stands with you, Erdogan tells President Nicolas Maduro by telephone,” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin writes on Twitter.
Kalin also shares the #WeAreMADURO hashtag to show solidarity.
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