The UK, France, Germany, Spain and other European countries have officially recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.
This comes after President Nicolas Maduro defiantly rejected a deadline they set for Sunday to call fresh elections saying he would not accept “ultimatums”. He denounced Mr. Guaido’s move as a coup.
As head of Venezuelan National Assembly, Mr. Guaido says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate.