International pressure mounted Sunday against Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro, with Washington insisting his “days are numbered” after opposition efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the country descended into bloody chaos.
Self-declared interim president Juan Guaido called on the international community to consider “all measures to free” Venezuela after clashes at border crossings left four people dead since Friday.
The European Union condemned the use of violence and armed civilian groups to block the entry of aid by Maduro’s government, which claimed victory.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “shocked and saddened” by the civilian deaths.
Guaido is set to participate in Monday’s Lima Group meeting of mostly Latin American countries in Bogota, and called on the international community to be prepared for “all possibilities” regarding Maduro.
Colombia’s President Ivan Duque said Venezuela’s “legitimate government” was formally joining the group at the meeting, where US Vice President Mike Pence will represent Washington.
Demonstrators throw rocks at Venezuelan police after a truck with humanitarian aid was set on fire at the Francisco de Paula Santander international bridge linking Cucuta, Colombia, and Urena, VenezuelaUS Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was confident that “Maduro’s days are numbered,” blaming the border violence on armed loyalists known as “colectivos.”
“We’re aimed at a singular mission — ensuring the Venezuelan people get the democracy they so richly deserve,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
President Donald Trump has said that Washington is not ruling out armed action.
Source : AFP
