US backs Venezuelan opposition leader

Juan Guaido declares himself interim president with US support

‘President elect’ of Venezuela, Juan Guaido
(Image credit: FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images)

The United States has taken an almost unprecedented step of officially declaring its support of an opposition candidate in Venezuela, following 35-year-old Juan Guaido’s public announcement that he is now the interim president.

The BBC reports that a number of South American nations, “including Brazil, Colombia and Peru, have also recognised Mr Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president”.

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