as refugees.

Australia, Canada and Israel, have also backed Mr Guaidó's claim.

Who backs Maduro?

Russia

Russia has continued to back President Maduro.

It has warned the US against military action, and has accused the country of "crudely violating norms" in international law to pursue a course toward "illegal regime change" in Venezuela.

image copyright AFP image caption President Vladimir Putin met with Mr Maduro only last month

For an increasingly isolated Mr Maduro - Russia has provided a source of military and economic support.

There was even some suggestion in recent days, from the Reuters news agency, that private Russian contractors had been flown in to protect Mr Maduro - though a Kremlin spokesman has denied the report.

"Putin is giving us support on all levels and we have received it with much pleasure and gratitude,"Mr Maduro told Russian media recently.

Economically, Russia has become a crucial lender to Venezuela's stricken economy.

The government, along with state owned oil company Rosneft, has handed billions of dollars in loans to Mr Maduro's government. Reuters has estimated at least £17bn of these have been credited since 2006.

In recent days, Russian officials have made clear they expect Venezuela to continue its repayments, despite the deepening crisis.

Part of the collateral Rosneft has over its loans to PDVSA comes in the form of a 49.9% stake in US oil firm Citgo - a potential source of further tension between the US and Russia if it moves to seize those assets.

China

Though Russia has invested heavily in the country, China is by far Venezuela's largest foreign creditor.

Chinese companies have invested billions in