Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido is named president by UK as socialist dictator Maduro continues violent crackdown
BRITAIN today announced it is recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as the new interim president of crisis-hit Venezuela.
The move piles fresh pressure on the embattled socialist despot Nicolas Maduro and comes after he missed Sunday's deadline to call fresh presidential elections.
Mr Guaido proclaimed himself as temporary president on January 23 but Mr Maduro has showed no signs of ending his six-year presidency voluntarily. Mr Maduro has launched a brutal crackdown on his own people as he refuses to relinquish his grip on power.
The UK joins a host of other European countries including France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, Austria and Denmark in backing Mr Guaido in recognising the opposition leader.
The US and a string of South American countries had already recognised him as interim president until new elections can be held.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced today: "The United Kingdom now recognises Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela, until credible presidential elections can be held.
The people of Venezuela have suffered enough
Jeremy Hunt
"The people of Venezuela have suffered enough. It is time for a new start, with free and fair elections in accordance with international democratic standards.
"The oppression of the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime must end. Those who continue to violate the human rights of ordinary Venezuelans under an illegitimate regime will be called to account.
"The Venezuelan people deserve a better future."
The crisis in Venezuela has sparked a bitter row in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party, whose frontbench has repeatedly failed to condemn Mr Maduro's tyrannic leadership of the country.
Last week he sparked after he slammed the UK Government’s call for sanctions on Mr Maduro. The Labour leader condemned “outside interference” against the despot.
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He has called for “dialogue” with Maduro - even though he stubbornly refused to sit down for Brexit talks with Theresa May for days.
Mr Corbyn has been a long-standing ally of the socialist Venezualan regime and has tweeted his backing for Mr Maduro despite the economic ruin he has presided over.
Mr Guaido has argued Mr Maduro's re-election in May was fraudulent and that, as head of the Venezuelan congress, the country's constitution gave him power to declare himself interim president.
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