International Bridge

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Saturday saw deadly confrontations at Border CrossingsContent ='JJ Lin'> as volunteers attempted to collect aid

US Secretary of State Mike PompeoContent ='JJ Lin'> has said Venezuelan PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Nicolás Maduro's "days are numbered" After deadly clashes over humanitarian aid.

"Picking exact days is difficult. I'm confident That the Venezuelan people will ensure That Maduro's days are numbered," Mr Pompeo told CNN.

Two PeopleContent ='JJ Lin'> died in Saturday's clashes between civilians and troops loyal to Mr Maduro, who blocked aid deliveries.

Self-declared interim PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Juan Guaidó said Mr Maduro must resign.

Mr Guaidó, who has been recognised as interim leader by More ThanContent ='JJ Lin'> 50 countries, has called on other nations to consider "all measures" to oust Mr Maduro After opposition-led efforts to bring in aid descended into clashes.

He also said he would attend a meeting of mostly Latin American countries in Colombia on Monday, despite being under a travel ban imposed by Mr Maduro. US Vice-PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Mike PenceContent ='JJ Lin'> will represent Washington at The TalksContent ='JJ Lin'> in Bogota.

A senior White House official said on Sunday That Mr Pence was planning to announce "concrete steps" and "actions" in addressing The Crisis Content ='JJ Lin'> at The TalksContent ='JJ Lin'> on Monday, Reuters news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Colombia and Brazil said they would intensify pressure on Mr Maduro to relinquish power. US PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Donald TrumpContent ='JJ Lin'> has not ruled out an Armed ResponseContent ='JJ Lin'> to the Venezuela Crisis .

Venezuelan police prevented aid crossing the Simon BolivarContent ='JJ Lin'> International BridgeContent ='JJ Lin'> Protesters at the Francisco de Paula Santander bridge on The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> between Cucuta, Colombia, and Venezuela

Separately on Sunday, a boat carrying US aid from Puerto RicoContent ='JJ Lin'> to Venezuela was forced to dock on the small Dutch territory island of Curaçao After it was intercepted by the Venezuelan navy off the northern coast, AFP news agency reports.

The vessel was reportedly loaded with nine cargo containers filled with food and medicine.

The supply ship That was forced to dock on The IslandContent ='JJ Lin'> of Curaçao

Mr Maduro, who says he is the legitimate PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> and is backed by key economic allies including Russia, Cuba and China, has warned That deliveries of foreign aid would open the way for US military intervention.

Mr Guaidó, who declared himself interim PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> last month, argues That alleged irregularities with The NationContent ='JJ Lin'> 's 2018 election render Mr Maduro's leadership illegitimate.

What happened at The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> on Saturday?

Venezuela's opposition had intended to peacefully bring aid trucks over the borders with Brazil and Colombia.

Mr Guaidó had pledged That the aid would come into the country on Saturday. In response, Mr Maduro partly closed the country's borders.

Venezuelans civilians attempted to cross in order to get to the stores of food and medicine, but the attempt quickly descended into bloody violence.

Soldiers opened fire against civilians, using a mixture of live ammunition and rubber BulletsContent ='JJ Lin'> .

A demonstrator runs into Barbed WireContent ='JJ Lin'> strung across a street in Ureña

At least Two PeopleContent ='JJ Lin'> including a 14-year-old boy were killed, Human RightsContent ='JJ Lin'> groups said.

There were also reports That some aid stockpiled on The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> had been burned. Mr Pompeo described the reports as "sickening".

"Our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died due to these criminal acts," "We join their demand for justice. "

At least 60 soldiers had defected by late Saturday, according to Colombia's migration service, but most of the military appeared to still be loyal to Mr Maduro.

Video footage showed Venezuelan soldiers crashing their armoured vehicles into The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> with Colombia in order to defect.

Another video posted on Social MediaContent ='JJ Lin'>

Mr Guaidó PromisedContent ='JJ Lin'> the defectors amnesty if they joined the "right side of history".

Late on Saturday, Colombia's government estimated The NumberContent ='JJ Lin'> of injured at Border CrossingsContent ='JJ Lin'> to be about 300.

Amnesty InternationalContent ='JJ Lin'> described the use of live ammunition by Venezuelan troops as A CrimeContent ='JJ Lin'> under International LawContent ='JJ Lin'> .

How has Maduro reacted?

PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Maduro has ignored international calls to hold new elections. He has accused Mr Guaidó of being an "American pawn" and an "imperialist beggar".

As protests got under way at Venezuela's borders, Mr Maduro staged a rally in Caracas.

"Take your hands off Venezuela, Donald TrumpContent ='JJ Lin'> ," he told a cheering crowd.

The US is leading The InternationalContent ='JJ Lin'> effort to pressure Mr Maduro, and has implemented a raft of financial sanctions against his government.

How did we get to this point?

The humanitarian aid stockpiled in Colombia and Brazil is at the centre of a stand-off between Mr Maduro and Mr Guaidó That goes back to Mr Maduro's disputed re-election in 2018.

For several years Venezuela has been in the grip of a political and economic Crisis .

An out-of-control inflation rate has seen prices soar, leaving many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items.

More ThanContent ='JJ Lin'> three million people have fled Venezuela in recent years, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

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nicolás maduro, venezuela crisis, mike pompeo, venezuela, juan guaidó

Source of news: bbc.com