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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro faces growing international pressure after his troops have pushed back foreign aid convoys to the country's borders, the United States threatening further sanctions and Brazil urging its allies to join a "liberation effort".
Juan Guaido, Venezuela's self-declared interim president, urged the international community to consider "all measures" to overthrow Maduro after border clashes that left at least three demonstrators dead and 300 others injured near the Brazilian border.
The opposition leader's appeal was held Monday in Bogota, Bogota, at the meeting of the Lima regional group of nations, which will be attended by US Vice President Mike Pence.
Pence is expected to announce "concrete measures" and "clear actions" at the meeting to deal with the crisis, said Sunday a senior US administration official, refusing to provide details.
Last month, the United States imposed crippling sanctions on the oil industry of the OPEC nation, reducing its main source of foreign income.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was confident that "the days of Maduro are numbered", blaming violence at the border to armed supporters known as "colectivos".
"We are aiming for a singular mission: to ensure that the Venezuelan people get the democracy they deserve so well," he said Sunday as part of CNN's "State of the Union" program. .
& # 39; Liberation Effort & # 39;
In the past, President Donald Trump has declared that a military intervention in Venezuela was "an option" and that after the failure of the Venezuelan opposition to penetrate the government blockade, some to Washington have intensified bellicose rhetoric.
US Senator Marco Rubio, an influential spokesman for Venezuela's policy in Washington, said Saturday's violence "opened the door to various potential multilateral actions that were not on the table barely a year ago. 24 hours".
After tonight's discussions with several regional leaders, it is now clear that the serious crimes committed today by the Maduro regime have opened the door to various potential multilateral actions that were not on the table there. There is barely 24 hours. https://t.co/MvqFwB6E6d
– Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2019
Later, he tweeted pictures of anti-American politicians, including Manuel Noriega (Panama), Muammar Gaddafi (Libya) and Nicolae Ceausescu (Romania), at the height of their power and their brutal downfall . fate.
– Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2019
– Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2019
At the same time, Brazil, a diplomatic heavyweight in Latin America that has the largest economy in the region, called "the international community, especially those countries that have not yet recognized Juan Guaido as president by interim, to badociate with Venezuela's liberation effort ".
Colombian President Ivan Duque, in a tweet, denounced the "barbarity" of Saturday, saying that the summit on Monday would discuss "how to strengthen the diplomatic seat of the dictatorship in Venezuela."
Maduro, who retains the support of China and Russia, both of whom have major investments in the energy sector in Venezuela, said the aid efforts of the United States, the United States, and the United States of America, have made a significant contribution. The opposition was part of a coup d'etat orchestrated by the United States.
At a press conference Sunday, his information minister, Jorge Rodriguez, boasted of the failure of the opposition in his badistance and qualified Guaido of " puppet and used condom ".
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Sunday that Venezuela, the main ally of the Caribbean island, was a victim of US imperialist attempts to restore neoliberalism in Latin America.
Foreign aid, much of it from the United States, has become the centerpiece of the conflict between Maduro and Guaido.
Guaido, 35, has garnered support from more than 50 governments around the world since becoming interim president at a rally in January, saying Maduro's re-election was illegitimate because some the opposition were prevented from presenting themselves.
But until now, it has not been able to create a major fracture within the military, despite repeated calls and an offer of amnesty to those who joined to the struggle of the opposition for power.
Deadly clashes
On Saturday, truckloads of American food and medicine on the Colombian border repeatedly attempted to overtake troop lines but were hit by tear gas and rubber bullets.
Two of the aid trucks were set on fire, which the opposition blamed the security forces and the government for "drugged protesters".
The Brazilian border in Roraima said the number of Venezuelans treated for gunshot wounds has increased from five to 18 in the last 24 hours. all 18 were in serious condition.
It was the result of incessant battles, which included unarmed gunmen, throughout Saturday in the Venezuelan town of Santa Elena, near the border.
The Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, a local crime monitoring group, announced the confirmation of three deaths Saturday, all in Santa Elena, and at least 295 wounded throughout the country.
Emilio Gonzalez, Mayor of Gran Sabana, the district where Santa Elena is located, told reporters that the death toll could reach 25.
In the Venezuelan city of Urena, on the border with Colombia, the streets were still strewn with debris Sunday, including the charred remains of a bus set on fire by protesters.
Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres He called on Sunday to "avoid violence at all costs" and said everyone should reduce tension and continue efforts to avoid further escalation, according to his spokesman.
The European Union has also condemned the use of violence and groups of armed civilians to block the entry of aid.
"We refuse the use of irregular armed groups to intimidate civilians and lawmakers who have mobilized to distribute aid," said Federica Mogherini, EU foreign policy officer.
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