US State Department Calls For Transition To New Government In Venezuela

The United States supports transition of power to a new government in Venezuela, the State Department deputy spokesman said Saturday after the head of the opposition-controlled parliament suggested taking over as interim president

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th January, 2019) The United States supports transition of power to a new government in Venezuela, the State Department deputy spokesman said Saturday after the head of the opposition-controlled parliament suggested taking over as interim president.

"It is time to begin the orderly transition to a new government... The United States government will continue to use the full weight of US economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela," Robert Palladino said in a statement.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term on Thursday. Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly, which was rendered powerless after a rival parliament came into being last year, said Friday he would turn to the military and the international community for support in assuming presidency.

In the statement, Palladino said the United States commended his courage and called on Venezuela's security and armed forces to "respect all protections the constitution affords" to Guaido and other members of the National Assembly.

Maduro has repeatedly accused Washington of plotting to overthrow and kill him. He slammed Guaido for trying to destabilize the country. Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Vladimir Zaemsky told Sputnik that refusal by neighboring countries to recognize Maduro as president undermined efforts to end the political crisis.