US bucks Maduro, will keep diplomats in Venezuela

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S defied orders by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to vacate diplomatic staff, saying Wednesday it will conduct relations through opposition leader Juan Guaido who it earlier recognized as the country's interim president.

"The United States does not recognize the Maduro regime as the government of Venezuela," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "The United States does not consider former president Nicolas Maduro to have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations with the United States or to declare our diplomats persona non grata."

President Donald Trump earlier Wednesday declared Guaido, the National Assembly president, to be the legitimate leader of Venezuela, urging other western hemisphere governments to follow suit while insisting Washington will maintain economic and diplomatic pressure on Maduro's government.

Maduro slammed the decision and said his country was cutting off diplomatic relations with the U.S., giving American diplomats three days to leave the country.

Brazil and the Organization of American States had recognized Guaido as Venezuela's leader prior to his formal announcement. Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Paraguay have followed suit while Bolivia and Mexico continue to recognize Maduro.

Guaido has called for nationwide protests against Maduro in hopes sustained popular pressure will oust Maduro, who was sworn in earlier this month for another six-year term, from government.

Video posted online from Venezuela depicts jam-packed streets in Caracas, and several other major cities, as people call for the Venezuelan leader to leave office amid an economic crisis in the Latin American nation.

Security forces have attempted to disperse demonstrators with tear gas, according to multiple reports. At least one protester was reported dead.

Maduro has repeatedly lashed out at the U.S., saying Washington is waging an economic war against him and his government amid a sweeping sanctions campaign.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts inflation in Venezuela to hit 10 million percent in 2019 amid an economic crisis sparked by a global depreciation in the price of crude oil -- Venezuela's main economic driver.

That is the highest, by far, of all countries evaluated by the fund.

Millions of people have fled the country amid widespread food shortages and hyperinflation.