European leaders give Maduro ultimatum

European powers have warned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that he must call elections or they will officially recognise the opposition’s claim of leadership.

Mr Maduro is under pressure after his rival Juan Guaidó declared himself “acting president” on Wednesday.

Several countries, including the US, already back Mr Guaidó as president.

Venezuela later rejected the ultimatum at a UN meeting, where divisions between world powers were laid bare.

Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza told members of the UN Security Council in New York that Mr Maduro’s presidency was legitimate, and the country would not be pressured into calling elections.

“Nobody is going to give us deadlines or tell us if there are elections or not,” he said.

President Maduro was sworn in for a second term earlier this month, in an election marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging, leading to large anti-Maduro protests.

He accuses Mr Guaidó, the head of the National Assembly, of mounting a coup.

On Saturday, permanent Security Council members France and the UK joined Germany, Spain and other European nations in what looked like a co-ordinated demand that elections be held in Venezuela within eight days.

An EU statement was more cautious, seeking fresh elections or the bloc would take “further actions, including on the issue of recognition of the country’s leadership”.

Speaking on behalf of the EU, UK Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan said Venezuela needed a government “that truly represents the will of the Venezuelan people”.

-BBC