Venezuela coup crisis sparks fears of Iran-style hostage siege as US diplomats defy Nicolas Maduro’s order to leave

The Trump administration has warned it will take “appropriate actions” if any American citizens are endangered during the ongoing turmoil in the country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Venezuela’s military to protect its citizens after strongman President Maduro called for US diplomats to get out.

Violent protests have erupted in the country leaving at least seven dead after thousands took to the streets in a bid to oust Maduro.

The Marxist leader’s five-year reign looks set to be over after US-backed rival Juan Guaidó swore himself in as interim president to challenge the feared strongman.

But after President Trump confirmed that Washington now recognised Guaidó as the oil-rich country’s new leader – Maduro hit back cutting diplomatic ties with the “imperialist US government.”

He gave US diplomats 72 hours to leave Venezuela.

This stand-off over US diplomats has sparked fears of a hostage crisis similar to the seige in 1979 following the Iranian revolution which lasted for 444 days.

The Iranian crisis, subject of the Oscar-winning movie Argo, involved 52 American diplomats being held hostage by the country's new Islamic fundamentalist regime which had deposed the US-lacked leader Mohammad Reza Shah.

Don't trust the gringos

The siege was the new regime's response to President Carter’s administration allowing its former leader to seek refuge in America.

In Venezuela, it is still unclear what action strongman leader Maduro will take following the US diplomats refusal to leave the country.

In front of a crowd of red-shirted protestors outside the Presidential palace, he said: “Don't trust the gringos.”

Maduro rattled off a number of “gringo interventions” during the 20th Century – referencing the US backed military coups in Guatemala, Chile, Brazil

He added: "They don't have friends or loyalties. They only have interests, guts and the ambition to take Venezuela's oil, gas and gold."

Guaido issued a rival statement urging foreign embassies to ignore Maduro’s threats and keep their diplomats in the country.

What was the Iran hostage crisis?

  • The 1979 Iranian revolution saw the overthrow of the US-backed leader Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
  • On November 4, 1979, the new Islamic fundamentalist regime took 52 US diplomats hostage in response to President Carter’s administration allowing Iran’s deposed former leader into America.
  • The hostage crisis lasted for 444 days and also included a failed rescue mission which cost the lives of eight US soldiers.
  • In April 1980, the US ended diplomatic relations with Iran – a break which lasted for more than 30 years.

A few hours later, Pompeo confirmed the US would ignore Maduro’s threats to withdraw their embassy staff.

The Secretary of State warned the “the Venezuelan military and security forces” against attempting to force US diplomats to leave the country.

He warned America would take “appropriate action” if US nationals were “endangered.”

Pompeo said: “The United States will take appropriate actions to hold accountable anyone who endangers the safety and security of our mission and its personnel.”

RIVAL WINS SUPPORT

Trump branded Maduro’s government “illegitimate” and said that America stands with Venezuela.

Maduro destroyed the oil-rich South American nation’s economy sparking rampant inflation which wrecked its health system and left his people starving.

Charismatic Guaidó – a 35-year-old lawmaker scarred by rubber bullets in street demos – has boosted stalled efforts to finally oust limpet-like Maduro, 56.

He has also won the crucial support of neighbouring nations Brazil and Colombia and Donald Trump’s US.

The march and further unrest in the capital, Caracas followed two nights of violent protests in working-class neighbourhoods of Caracas where Maduro support was once firm.

Other protests were planned across the country and outside embassies around the world.

VIOLENCE ERUPTS

Guaidó warned notoriously brutal Maduro: “The world’s eyes are on our homeland today.”

Guaidó – head of the country's National Assembly – earlier described the president as a “usurper” and declared himself ready to assume the presidency until fair elections.

He went on to bravely call on armed forces keeping Maduro in power to disobey the government.

Venezuela – whose hard-left regime was saluted by Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 – sits on the biggest oil reserves on earth.

VENEZUELA IN TATTERS

But its rulers have presided over rampant hyperinflation rendering the Bolivar currency worthless and sparked food and medicine shortages while crime rocketed.

Street unrest boiled over amid spiralling economic turmoil after three million Venezuelans fled triggering a refugee crisis across the continent.








 

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