02:07Venezuela: Maduro accuses US of training 'gringo agent' Guaido
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused self-declared president Juan Guaido of working on behalf of the United States during a televised speech in Caracas on Friday.
"I know who he [Juan Guaido] is. He is an agent of the 'gringos' in Venezuela. They trained him as an agent and they put him in politics. He is an agent of the government of the United States, he knows and will receive and will fulfill orders from them," said Maduro.
Maduro also thanked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who called for a UN Security Council on Venezuela, stating: "I welcome it, it's what we wanted. I was about to tell the chancellor, 'Ask for a debate in the Security Council.' Mike Pompeo beat me to it, he was faster than me. Thanks Mike. Thank you very much, Mr. Pompeo."
He went to warn those thinking of aggression in the region that "we are in our territory, in our homeland, we know our mountains, our streets, our neighbourhoods, our shortcuts, we are accustomed to this weather, we love this land."
Juan Guaido, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, proclaimed himself interim president on January 23, after declaring Maduro's January 10 inauguration illegitimate.
Within 24 hours, the US and a majority of Latin America recognised him as president and the US announced $20 million (17.5 million euros) in humanitarian aid.
02:07Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused self-declared president Juan Guaido of working on behalf of the United States during a televised speech in Caracas on Friday.
"I know who he [Juan Guaido] is. He is an agent of the 'gringos' in Venezuela. They trained him as an agent and they put him in politics. He is an agent of the government of the United States, he knows and will receive and will fulfill orders from them," said Maduro.
Maduro also thanked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who called for a UN Security Council on Venezuela, stating: "I welcome it, it's what we wanted. I was about to tell the chancellor, 'Ask for a debate in the Security Council.' Mike Pompeo beat me to it, he was faster than me. Thanks Mike. Thank you very much, Mr. Pompeo."
He went to warn those thinking of aggression in the region that "we are in our territory, in our homeland, we know our mountains, our streets, our neighbourhoods, our shortcuts, we are accustomed to this weather, we love this land."
Juan Guaido, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, proclaimed himself interim president on January 23, after declaring Maduro's January 10 inauguration illegitimate.
Within 24 hours, the US and a majority of Latin America recognised him as president and the US announced $20 million (17.5 million euros) in humanitarian aid.