Buenos Aires [Argentina], January 5: As questions swirl over Venezuela's political future, the country's armed forces have thrown their support behind Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said Rodríguez had assumed leadership of the country in accordance with the constitution following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces.
Padrino, a key member of member of Maduro's inner circle, made the remarks in a video address on Sunday while flanked by uniformed soldiers.
The military is the decisive power broker in Venezuela and has been loyal to Maduro's leftist authoritarian government.
Padrino said armed forces and police units across the country had been activated to repel what he described as "imperialist aggression" by the United States.
He described Maduro's capture early Saturday as a "cowardly kidnapping," alleging that US special forces had killed the president's bodyguards, soldiers and innocent civilians during the operation, which also involved large-scale airstrikes.
US President Donald Trump has said he will "run" Venezuela until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" can be ensured - and that Vice President Rodríguez was ready to cooperate.
Rodríguez, however, has remained defiant. She demanded Maduro's release and described the US attack as a violation of the UN Charter.
"We will never be slaves again," she said, addressing Trump.
Source: Qatar Tribune
