Venezuela's Maduro Closes Embassy in US, Endorses Dialogue Call by Mexico, Uruguay

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered Thursday the closing of the embassy and consulates of his country in the United States, a day after breaking diplomatic relations with Donald Trump's government.

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Speaking from the Supreme Justice Court (TSJ), Maduro said that the international strategy's objective is to intervene in Venezuela through a puppet president.

"There's a great provocation, led by the U.S. empire, happening now in Venezuela. There's no doubt in the world that it's President Donald Trump who wants to impose a de facto, unconstitutional government. It's a coup in Venezuela against the people and democracy," said Maduro.

The crisis between the two governments escalated this week when the White House backed the swearing in of opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido as “interim president” against the constitution and international law. The Venezuelan president also gave the U.S. delegation until Sunday to leave the country.

"They want to break the republic, the nation, they want to declare an unconstitutional president ... Their imperial lord Mike Pompeo organized this, it was him who gave the order," Maduro said speaking of the attempted parliamentary coup against his elected progressive government. 

He also explained that problems that the two countries had should have been resolved through deplomacy, without having to interfere in foreign countries issues.

"Imperialism was playing ahead. Since January 2018 it said: We won't recognize any presidential election called in Venezuela," he said.

Maduro said to be in favor of the call for dialogue made to the country as a whole by the governments of Uruguay and Mexico. "I can face the worst difficulties because I know I have the strength of the people."

He also congratulated the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) for their support and recognition to the Bolivarian government

"The military power has spoken and it's sticking to the Constitution, the homeland and the people. What the opposition right-wing did was a false move, improvised, full of manipulation and lies. They can't deal with the legitimate government," he said.