Numerous governments in the Western Hemisphere quickly recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of his crisis-torn country Wednesday. Paraguay was the first regional country to express support after Guaido took an oath before thousands of supporters. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Latin America's largest nation also would support the 35-year-old lawmaker "so that peace and democracy return to Venezuela." Guaido has said it is his right under Venezuela's constitution to take over the presidency until new elections can be called. A spokesman for Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Mexico continued to recognize Maduro as Venezuela's president.

Source: ABC News January 23, 2019 23:48 UTC