Guaido aide snatched

The United States has threatened Venezuela with severe consequences unless President Nicolas Maduro immediately releases a senior aide to Juan Guaido, who was snatched from his home by masked intelligence agents at 2am yesterday. Roberto Marrero, chief of staff to Guaido, shouted that Maduro’s agents had planted two rifles and a grenade on him, Guaido tweeted. US national security adviser John Bolton said the arrest of Marrero ‘‘would not go unanswered’’. ‘‘Maduro has made another big mistake,’’ he added. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also threatened to ‘‘hold accountable those involved’’. Venezuela’s government has not commented but Guaido said Marrero had been taken by Sebin, the Venezuelan intelligence agency. Maduro and Guaido both claim to be Venezuela’s legitimate leaders but Maduro retains the loyalty of the military and has control of state apparatus.