(Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil exports on Monday, a major escalation in its support for opposition leader Juan Guaido’s bid to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a meeting with members of the Venezuelan diplomatic corp after their arrival from the United States, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela January 28, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS Like many in the opposition and international community, Guaido says the May 2018 vote in which Maduro won a second term was a sham. He says the presidency is vacant as a result, and on Jan. 23 declared himself president, promising free and fair elections, winning support from the United States and others. While Maduro faces growing international criticism for undermining democracy, he retains support from key stakeholders both at home and abroad, including Russia and China. Guaido, who a decade ago participated in protests against late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, is promising a transition to a new government through free and fair elections and an amnesty for military officers who disavow Maduro. Below is a summary of the support enjoyed by each leader. MADURO ** The top brass of Venezuela’s military has shown no sign of leaving Maduro’s side. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino reaffirmed support for Maduro in a tweet on Jan. 23, saying Venezuela’s armed forces disavowed any self-proclaimed president. ** Russia and China, which are major investors in Venezuela’s oil industry and significant creditors to the indebted government, have stood by Maduro and criticized U.S. interference. The two blocked a push for the United Nations Security Council to back Guaido. ** The Supreme Court, stacked with Maduro loyalists, has remained solidly behind the socialist leader, ruling last week that all actions taken by the congress - led by Guaido - are null and void. ** State oil company PDVSA, which accounts for most of Venezuela’s export earnings, stood by Maduro. “We have no other president” besides Maduro, PDVSA President and Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo, a career military officer, said in a Jan. 23 statement. ** A few left-leaning governments in the region, including Cuba and Bolivia, continue to back Maduro. Mexico, where leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office last year, has dropped the previous government’s opposition to Maduro and said it will follow a policy of non-intervention. GUAIDO ** The United States recognized Guaido shortly after he proclaimed himself president on Jan. 23, saying it would use its “economic and diplomatic power” to restore democracy in Venezuela. ** Numerous right-leaning Latin American governments, including Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, also recognized Guaido. Britain, Germany and France all said on Jan. 26 they would recognize Guaido as president if Maduro failed to call fresh elections in eight days. ** Australia, Canada, Israel also recognize the young leader. ** Venezuela’s top military envoy to the United States, defense attache Colonel Jose Luis Silva, said he was splitting with Maduro and recognized Guaido as the “only legitimate president.” ** There are some signs that support for the opposition is expanding beyond its traditional middle- and upper-class areas. Several protests against Maduro broke out in working-class neighborhoods last week, while many former Chavez and Maduro supporters came out to the massive Jan. 23 opposition march. ** Some low-ranking military officers have expressed discontent with the government. The government on Jan. 21 said it suppressed a military revolt after a group of officers stole weapons, kidnapped officers, and demanded Maduro’s removal.<doc-sep>Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela has been receiving massive attention from the international community since National Assembly chief Juan Guaido declared himself acting interim president of Venezuela. With socialist President Nicolas Maduro hanging on to power, these are their respective key supports, inside and outside the OPEC member: - Maduro - Military: The Venezuela armed forces are considered the backbone of the government, and on Thursday senior military officers reaffirmed support for Maduro, claiming that there was an effective "coup" under way. Of 32 cabinet ministers, nine are from the military and run portfolios such as Defense, Interior, Agriculture and the intelligence service, as well as state oil giant PDVSA, which contributes 96 percent of the country's income. They also control a television station, a bank and a vehicle assembly plant, among other companies. But their support has come under some threat. The military attache of Venezuela in Washington, Colonel Jose Luis Silva, announced Saturday that he no longer recognizes Maduro as legitimate president, and urged his "military brothers" to back Guaido. - International creditors and allies: China, Venezuela's biggest creditor with some $20 billion dollars owed, said Thursday it opposed "external interference" after the United States and some allies recognized Guaido as interim leader. Venezuela's number two creditor, Russia, also backs it militarily: in December it sent two bombers and some 100 officers to Caracas for joint exercises. President Vladimir Putin called Maduro to express his "support." Countries such as Turkey, Cuba, Bolivia, Uruguay and Mexico -- as well as Iran and North Korea -- continue to recognize the 56 year-old Maduro. - Justice: Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) supports the Maduro regime. Court justices were chosen by the pro-government National Assembly in December 2015, just days before the opposition took control of the legislature. Story continues Since 2016 the top court has declared the opposition controlled legislature in contempt and voided all of its actions. The court on Thursday reiterated its support for Maduro regime. Venezuela's top prosecutor, Attorney General Tarek William Saab, also is a Maduro loyalist. - National Constituent Assembly: Maduro convened the staunchly pro-government assembly after four months of opposition protests that left about 125 dead in 2017. It has absolute powers, and serves as the de facto legislature. the opposition says it was created illegally. - Electoral authority: The National Electoral Council (CNE), in charge of running elections, is chaired by the openly pro-government Tibisay Lucena. Under her management several opposition parties have been disqualified, and on Thursday it issued a statement endorsing Maduro. Rulings by pro-government judges and the CNE thwarted opposition efforts to hold a referendum to revoke Maduro's presidency in 2016, a vote allowed under the constitution. Opposition parties refused participate in the last elections, including the May 2018 presidential vote in which Maduro was reelected, saying there were no guarantees of impartiality. They say Maduro was elected through fraud. - Guaido - International support: The United States, along with several Latin America and European Union countries, refused to recognize Maduro's reelection. When Guaido proclaimed himself acting interim president US President Donald Trump quickly recognized him. Other countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Australia, quickly followed. On Sunday Israel said it would recognize Guaido as president. Six European countries -- Spain, France, Germany, Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands -- on Saturday demanded that either Venezuela call elections within eight days or they would recognize Guaido as interim leader. Some European countries such as Greece still support Maduro. The head of the Washington-based Organization of American States, Uruguayan Luis Almagro, also gave his support to Guaido. - National Assembly: The opposition-controlled National Assembly was elected in 2015, when a coalition of opposition parties handed the leftist regime its biggest electoral defeat ever. After taking office on January 5, Guaido, 35, began to press for a "transitional government" and new elections, calling on the military to break with the government in exchange for an amnesty. - Justice in exile: A Venezuelan Supreme Court in exile, with members appointed by the National Assembly, on Wednesday welcomed Guaido's "will" to take over as acting leader pending new elections.<doc-sep>After massive protests of Venezuela president Nicolás Maduro yesterday (Jan. 23), national assembly speaker Juan Guaidó swore himself in as the nation’s interim leader, giving the South American country two heads of state. Shortly after, the US recognized Guaidó’s move, followed by 11 other nations—Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru—as well as the EU. The US stance prompted Maduro to issue a 72 hour window for American diplomats and consular staff to leave the country. “The imperial government of the United States is leading a coup attempt against [Venezuela] in order to install a puppet presidency…” said Maduro during a live state broadcast. Russia, Bolivia, and Cuba issued statements supporting Maduro as the legitimate president. Meanwhile, China issued a statement opposing foreign interference in Venezuela. “I want to emphasize that outside sanctions or interference usually make the situation more complicated,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a Beijing briefing. As more countries rally behind the two presidents, pressure for change may reach a tipping point. Ignoring Maduro’s threat, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said US diplomats would remain in the country, cooperating with Guaidó. Issuing his own warning, Pompeo told CNN, “the United States will take appropriate actions to hold accountable anyone who endangers the safety and security of our mission and its personnel.” Here’s a list of the countries that have taken a public position on the divided government.<doc-sep>
(Reuters) - Venezuela’s opposition has raised the stakes against President Nicolas Maduro after congress head Juan Guaido swore himself in as interim head of state with the support of the United States and some major Latin American nations. Juan Guaido, President of Venezuela's National Assembly, gestures during a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Below is a summary of support for the rival leaders. MADURO * The top brass of Venezuela’s military has shown no sign of leaving Maduro’s side. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino reaffirmed his support in a Tweet on Wednesday, saying Venezuela’s armed forces disavowed any self-proclaimed president. * The Supreme Court, stacked with Maduro loyalists, has remained solidly behind the socialist leader, ruling earlier this week that all actions taken by the congress - led by Guaido - are null and void. * Russia called Maduro the country’s legitimate president and accused the United States of trying to usurp power in Venezuela, warning Washington against military intervention. * President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey stood by Maduro, urging him to “stand tall”, Erdogan’s spokesman said. * China voiced support for Maduro, saying it opposed outside interference in Venezuela and backed efforts to protect its independence and stability. * State oil company PDVSA [PDVSA.UL], which accounts for most of Venezuela’s export earnings, stood by Maduro. “We have no other president” besides Maduro, said PDVSA President and Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo, a career military officer. * A few left-leaning governments in the region, including Cuba and Bolivia, continue to back Maduro. Mexico, where leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office last year, has dropped the previous government’s opposition to Maduro and said it will follow a policy of non-intervention. * A diehard core of “Chavistas” in Venezuela, including armed gangs in poor urban areas, remain core to late leader Hugo Chavez’s exhortation to support Maduro come what may. GUAIDO * The United States recognized Guaido shortly after he proclaimed himself president, saying it would use its “economic and diplomatic power” to restore democracy in Venezuela. * Numerous right-leaning Latin American governments, including Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, also recognized Guaido. * The European Union’s executive called for new elections but declined to explicitly recognize Guaido as president. An EU statement urged authorities to respect his “civil rights, freedom and safety” and allow Venezuelans to freely determine their future. * French President Emmanuel Macron saluted the courage of Venezuelans marching for freedom and called Maduro’s 2018 election victory illegal. * A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said Maduro’s election was neither free nor fair, and expressed support for Guaido as national assembly head. * The German government said Venezuela’s parliament had “a special role” to play in securing Venezuela’s “free future”. * There are some signs that support for the opposition is expanding beyond its traditional middle- and upper-class areas. Several protests against Maduro have broken out in working-class neighborhoods and slums this week. * Some low-ranking military officers have expressed discontent with the government. The government on Monday said it suppressed a military revolt after a group of officers stole weapons, kidnapped officers, and demanded Maduro’s removal.