Death Toll In Clashes During Venezuela's Protests Climbs To 16 - Reports

Umer Jamshaid Published January 24, 2019 | 05:57 AM

MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) The number of people who were killed in clashes during the nationwide protests in Venezuela has increased to 16, local media reported.

According to La Prensa de Lara media outlet, 16 people were killed in clashes in Venezuela's states of Portuguesa, Barinas, Tachira, Caracas, Amazonas and Bolivar.

On Wednesday, Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the country's interim president.

The United States urged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down and let Guaido to assume the presidency. Maduro responded that Venezuela was severing diplomatic ties with Washington and gave 72 hours to all US diplomatic and consular staff to leave the country.

So far, along with the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.�