VENEZUELA
A Deadline Looms
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido are vying for the support of the military after the US and Europe ratcheted up the pressure on Maduro to step down.
On Sunday, supporters of Guaido distributed leaflets to soldiers explaining a planned law that would offer amnesty for helping to oust Maduro from office, while the beleaguered president appeared on television flanked by his top generals and addressed the troops directly, the Associated Press reported.
As president of the National Assembly, Guaido has cited his constitutional right to replace Maduro because of the widespread contention that his re-election was invalid. But the support of the military will likely be essential to his success.
Maduro blasted Guaido’s efforts as an “imperialist” coup orchestrated in Washington. But he backed off from his demand that all US diplomats exit the country, as US National Security Adviser John Bolton warned of “a significant response” to any violence or intimidation directed at US staff or Guaido himself.
Meanwhile, Germany, France and Spain said Saturday they’re prepared to recognize Guaido as interim president if Maduro doesn’t announce elections within eight days.
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