Venezuelan Embassy shut as Washington opens to envoy

WASHINGTON – Carlos Vecchio found open doors at the White House and on Capitol Hill this week as the newly arrived Venezuelan diplomat sought U.S. assistance in trying to oust his country’s disputed president, Nicolas Maduro.

Vecchio was locked out of his own country’s embassy Wednesday – it was shuttered by Maduro amid that country’s bloody power struggle – so he held an ad hoc news conference at a Washington think tank instead.

Asked about possible U.S. military intervention to remove Maduro from power, Vecchio said the only thing he’s discussed with the Trump administration is a transition to democracy for his country and gaining access to Venezuela’s frozen assets in the USA.

“We’re clear about our diplomatic mission,” which is to rally international support for deposing Maduro, establishing a transitional government and calling elections, he said.

President Donald Trump worked to strengthen the hand of Juan Guaido, 35, an opposition leader who declared himself interim president of Venezuela. Trump spoke with Guaido by phone Wednesday to reaffirm his support in the push to oust Maduro. Trump recognized Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela and blasted Maduro’s regime as corrupt and illegitimate.

The two men discussed the anti-Maduro protests across Venezuela on Wednesday. Similar demonstrations turned deadly in recent days. The United Nations said at least 40 people have been killed, many allegedly shot by Maduro-controlled security officers or other pro-government forces.