Venezuelan stand-off - EU demands urgent elections as Russia questions whether US is planning military action

AP:

The United Nation’s political chief says there are differing views on what the future should hold for Venezuela but the goal is “a political solution that will allow the country’s citizens to enjoy peace, prosperity and all their human rights”.

Rosemary DiCarlo reiterated UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ call yesterday on all parties to commit to holding an “inclusive and credible political dialogue to address the protracted crisis in the country” and his offer to help resolve the crisis.

In the meantime, the Nicolás Maduro government rejected demands by European nations that it quickly call new presidential elections.

Ruling party chief Diosdado Cabello said that leaders like Spain’s Pedro Sanchez should think twice before lecturing Venezuela on democracy.

Sanchez became prime minister as a result of a backdoor parliamentary deal when his predecessor resigned amid corruption charges. In Cabello’s words, “Who elected him?”

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini had warned yesterday that it would recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezeula’s leader if the government doesn’t announce new elections within the coming days.

Earlier France, Germany, Britain and Spain set an eight-day deadline for calling elections for recognising Guaido’s leadership.

But Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the United States of attempting “to engineer a coup d’etat” in Venezuela.

He demanded to know whether the Trump administration, “is ready to use military force” against the Maduro government.