Venezuela's Maduro says ready for talks with opposition

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday he is ready for talks with the opposition, with the participation of international mediators.

He made the remarks in an interview with Russian state news agency RIA.

Maduro, 56, is confronting an unprecedented challenge to his authority after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself "interim president".

"I am ready to sit at the negotiation table with the opposition for us to talk for the benefit of Venezuela, for the sake of peace and its future," RIA quoted Maduro as saying.

Guaido declared himself "interim president" in a defiant speech on January 23 which immediately drew recognition from the Trump administration.

The U.S. side called on Maduro to resign and said it would use the "full weight" of U.S. economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration of Venezuela's democracy. Canada, as well as Brazil, Colombia and several other Latin American nations, followed suit in throwing their support behind Guaido.

U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo all issued statements proclaiming U.S. recognition of Guaido and saying the U.S. would take all diplomatic and economic measures necessary to support a transition to a new government.  

Negotiations on international mediation in connection with the situation in Venezuela are underway, the issue can be resolved in the coming hours, Maduro added in the interview.

(CGTN)