Venezuela's Guaido says special forces at his home

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Venezuelan police raided the home of the country's self-declared president Thursday amid a push to oust President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Juan Guaido who declared himself interim president last week said on Twitter he personally holds Maduro responsible for the safety of his daughter, who he said was home at the time of the raid.

The U.S., which has lined up behind Guaido, has previously warned of severe repercussions if Guaido is harmed.

Most countries in Latin America, as well as Canada and Washington have thrown their support behind the 35 year-old opposition leader.

Maduro refused calls to step down, insisting the U.S. is orchestrating a coup against him.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who is one of Guaido's staunchest congressional supporters, said Thursday's action was not only an "effort to intimidate [sic]", but was also an attempt "to see what reaction to arrest would be."

Washington has been leading an international economic and diplomatic campaign aimed at ramping up pressure on Maduro.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company on Monday, which also apply to a joint venture with Nicaragua's state-owned oil company, ALBANISA.

Maduro said Wednesday he is willing to sit down for negotiations with the opposition, but defied calls for new elections in the country.

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

The country is experiencing widespread shortages of food and medicine, and is set to experience inflation of 10 million percent in 2019, according to the International Monetary Fund.