UPDATE - US orders non-emergency gov’t staff to leave Venezuela

ADDS MORE DETAILS FROM STATEMENT, BACKGROUND

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. State Department on Thursday ordered all non-emergency U.S. government employees to leave Venezuela and issued a security alert for Americans in the capital Caracas amid growing tensions between the two countries.

"The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela," the statement said.

American citizens were advised to contact the U.S. Embassy in Caracas for consular assistance.

The statement also stressed that U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Venezuela should "strongly consider" leaving the country, noting they should do so while commercial flights are available.

It also urged those choosing to stay to ensure that they have adequate supplies to shelter in place and advised them to monitor local media for the latest developments and review personal security plans.

The move comes after Venezuela’s National Assembly leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president on Wednesday under Articles 333 and 350 of the Venezuelan Constitution amid mass anti-government protests over the country’s economic crisis.

Shortly after, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was recognizing Guaido as the country’s legitimate leader.

The U.S. also called on Western Hemisphere governments to recognize Guaido as the country's interim president, drawing a swift rebuke from Venezuela's internationally-recognized government.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that his country has cut off diplomatic relations with Washington and gave U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country -- a demand Washington has shrugged off, saying diplomatic personnel will stay at the invitation of Guaido.

In addition, all Venezuelan diplomatic personnel in the U.S. will return home Saturday following the closure of Venezuela’s embassy and consulates in the country, Maduro said during a speech in the capital Caracas.

A growing number of other countries have lined up behind Guaido, including Canada and several fellow Latin American nations.