Russia\'s Lavrov warns Pompeo against US using force in Venezuela

Russia's Lavrov warns Pompeo against US using force in Venezuela

AFP  |  Moscow 

Russian Sergei has warned his US counterpart against any American interference, including using force, in which is facing a major leadership crisis.

"He is ready for talks regarding the Venezuelan issue in line with UN principles," it added.

The remarks came after US reaffirmed earlier this month that military intervention in was "an option", as international pressure ramped up on embattled to step down.

Maduro is facing a challenge from opposition who declared himself in January.

Taking his authority from the constitution Guaido views Maduro's reelection last year, in a poll widely viewed as fraudulent, as illegitimate.

He is trying to force the from power so he can set up a transitional government and hold new

The and a group of European and Latin American ministers have called for a fresh presidential election, but Maduro has rejected the suggestion.

The US has presented a draft resolution to the calling for international aid deliveries and new Venezuelans have faced shortages of basic necessities such as and medicines as the economy went into meltdown under Maduro's leadership.

Some 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled since 2015, as hyperinflation rendered salaries and savings worthless.

US aid has been piling up in at the border with but until now the bridge border crossing has been barricaded by the military, under Maduro's orders.

But the denies there is a humanitarian crisis and has branded the whole affair a "political show" and a pretext for a US-led invasion.

The meanwhile announced it had started conducting exercises, set to run until Friday, to "reinforce the country's defensive capacity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, February 13 2019. 05:45 IST