US, Colombia responsible for possible murder: Maduro

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has alleged that the U.S. and Colombian presidents have hatched a plot to murder him.

In a no-holds-barred interview to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Maduro said: "Without a doubt, Donald Trump has given the order to kill me and has told the Colombian government and the mafia of the Colombian oligarchy to kill me.

"If something happened to me one day, I will hold Donald Trump and Colombian President Ivan Duque responsible."

Maduro also rejected calls for fresh presidential elections defying an eight-day deadline given last weekend by EU member states.

"We do not accept the ultimatum of anyone in the world, nor do we accept blackmail. In Venezuela there have been presidential elections, there has been a result, and if imperialists want new elections they should expect it in 2025," Maduro said.

European heavyweights -- including the U.K., Germany, France and Spain -- called on Maduro to announce fresh elections within the next eight days from Saturday to ease the current political crisis in the South American nation.

Maduro said he had obtained 68 percent of the votes in last May's polls "more than twice as much as any prime minister in Europe".

"Why are they legitimate and I am not?" he asked.

Contrary to his stand against presidential elections, Maduro said it will be a good idea to hold snap parliamentary elections for the National Assembly, which is currently controlled by the opposition.

The next parliamentary elections are due in 2020.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycott by the opposition.

Last week, Juan Guaido, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, declared himself acting president, a move immediately supported by Trump.

Maduro quickly shot back, cutting off diplomatic relations with Washington and giving U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.

He 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.

Brazil and the Organization of American States 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.

Bolivia and Mexico continue to recognize Maduro. Several South American countries, Russia, Turkey, China, and Iran have also expressed solidarity with Maduro.