US urges UN to recognize Guaido as Venezuela president

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday called on the UN Security Council to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of the country.

"We call on members of the Security Council to support Venezuela’s democratic transition and Interim President Guaido’s role in it," Pompeo said in an open meeting at the Security Council.

"This meeting is long overdue," Pompeo added. "Millions of children are suffering from malnutrition and starvation."

On Wednesday, following mass demonstrations throughout the country, Gauido, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, announced President Nicolas Maduro as illegitimate and declared himself as the interim president.

Soon after, U.S. President Donald Trump put out a statement recognizing Guaido as the president of the country.