Venezuelan soldiers have blocked the border crossing with Colombia ahead of a humanitarian aid delivery from the US arranged by opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president. 'We have been threatened by the US empire, by the President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump', declared Venezuela's embattled president, Nicolás Maduro. The aid blockade could sway the loyalties of the military who may disobey Maduro's orders and allow the much-needed aid to pass. International pressure is growing on Maduro to step down after major European Union nations this week joined the United States, Canada and a group of Latin American countries in recognising Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader

Source: The Guardian February 07, 2019 06:56 UTC