Venezuelan opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-guaido-pushes-past-troops-to-enter-congress-after-socialist-takeover-272820">Juan&nbsp;Guaido</a>&nbsp;on Saturday called for&nbsp;more&nbsp;protests&nbsp;against&nbsp;the government of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-opposition-calls-on-us-to-step-up-pressure-on-maduro-ally-russia-273498">Nicolas&nbsp;Maduro</a>&nbsp;in the wake of a failed attempt by the ruling Socialist Party to install allied leadership in congress.

Guaido&nbsp;held his first rally since troops six days ago blocked his access to congress long enough for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-ruling-socialists-seize-congress-defiant-opposition-re-elects-guaido-272587">Socialist Party</a> to declare an allied legislator as head of parliament.

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Estamos realizando cientos de asambleas y cabildos a nivel nacional porque tenemos que ir todos juntos en una misma dirección, organizados y con fuerza, a empujar en toda Venezuela, para salir de esta miserable emergencia y lograr la Libertad y la Democracia. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GranCabildoPorVzla?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GranCabildoPorVzla</a> <a href="https://t.co/ibHzpSXp2C">pic.twitter.com/ibHzpSXp2C</a>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1216145460555063296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Opposition legislators in a separate session on January&nbsp;5 re-elected him anyway, and they later returned to the legislative palace to hold session.

"We have to go into the streets to protest and make demands, we have to push together,"&nbsp;Guaido&nbsp;said on Saturday at a sparsely attended rally in the Montalban neighbourhood of western Caracas that brought out several hundred people.

"Nobody can stay in their house. Nobody can kneel before the dictatorship."

Guaido, who has been recognised by&nbsp;more&nbsp;than 50 countries as&nbsp;Venezuela's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guaido-parra-claim-victory-in-venezuelas-parliament-speaker-vote-272404">legitimate president</a>, has since November sought to revive the groundswell mobilizations of early 2019 that galvanized the opposition.

But rallies have consistently been smaller than last year, with many Venezuelans expressing weariness with the ongoing political standoff and frustration that&nbsp;Maduro&nbsp;remains in power despite an economic crisis and US&nbsp;sanctions.

Guaido&nbsp;had called on supporters on Tuesday to march to the headquarters of parliament to hold session, but Socialist Party leaders on Saturday called in sympathizers to surround Congress.

<img alt="Juan Guaido sharing his views with supporters during citizen assembly in Caracas, Venezuela" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fb97244-985e-402d-8522-1cb1e067f1a6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2837%29_0.jpg" /> 
[ Juan&nbsp;Guaido sharing his views with supporters during&nbsp;citizen assembly in Caracas, Venezuela (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

At Saturday's rally,&nbsp;Guaido&nbsp;noted that congress can hold session where and when it chooses, signalling he may avoid a confrontation. After being blocked from congress, legislators held session at the headquarters of opposition-linked newspaper El Nacional.

Guaido's press team on Friday said that a representative of the Norwegian government would visit <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-suspends-over-a-dozen-venezuelan-government-military-accounts-273072">Venezuela</a>, but that the opposition would not participate in any efforts by Norway to mediate conversations with the government.

The two sides in 2019 participated in talks brokered by Norway that were meant to ease the political deadlock, but the opposition walked away from the meetings because it contended the government was using them to buy time.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday called for more protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in the wake of a failed attempt by the ruling Socialist Party to install allied leadership in congress.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday called for more protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in the wake of a failed attempt by the ruling Socialist Party to install allied leadership in congress. Guaido held his first rally since troops six days ago blocked his access to congress long enough for the Socialist Party to declare an allied legislator as head of parliament. Estamos realizando cientos de asambleas y cabildos a nivel nacional porque tenemos que ir todos juntos en una misma dirección, organizados y con fuerza, a empujar en toda Venezuela, para salir de esta miserable emergencia y lograr la Libertad y la Democracia. #GranCabildoPorVzla pic.twitter.com/ibHzpSXp2C — Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) January 11, 2020 × Opposition legislators in a separate session on January 5 re-elected him anyway, and they later returned to the legislative palace to hold session. "We have to go into the streets to protest and make demands, we have to push together," Guaido said on Saturday at a sparsely attended rally in the Montalban neighbourhood of western Caracas that brought out several hundred people. "Nobody can stay in their house. Nobody can kneel before the dictatorship." Guaido, who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's legitimate president, has since November sought to revive the groundswell mobilizations of early 2019 that galvanized the opposition. But rallies have consistently been smaller than last year, with many Venezuelans expressing weariness with the ongoing political standoff and frustration that Maduro remains in power despite an economic crisis and US sanctions. Guaido had called on supporters on Tuesday to march to the headquarters of parliament to hold session, but Socialist Party leaders on Saturday called in sympathizers to surround Congress. [ Juan Guaido sharing his views with supporters during citizen assembly in Caracas, Venezuela (Courtesy: Reuters) ] At Saturday's rally, Guaido noted that congress can hold session where and when it chooses, signalling he may avoid a confrontation. After being blocked from congress, legislators held session at the headquarters of opposition-linked newspaper El Nacional. Guaido's press team on Friday said that a representative of the Norwegian government would visit Venezuela, but that the opposition would not participate in any efforts by Norway to mediate conversations with the government. The two sides in 2019 participated in talks brokered by Norway that were meant to ease the political deadlock, but the opposition walked away from the meetings because it contended the government was using them to buy time.

Venezuela's Guaido calls for more protests against Maduro

The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday.

More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled their home country in recent years amid political upheaval and widespread shortages of food and medicine.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) head Mark Green made the announcement during a visit to the border city of Cucuta, Colombia, an epicentre of arriving migrants, the State Department said in a statement.

Ivanka Trump, White House adviser and daughter of US President Donald Trump, is also on the visit. Colombia is the first stop on a Latin American tour that will also take her, Sullivan and Green to Argentina and Paraguay.

"This additional funding provides vital support, including emergency food and health assistance, to vulnerable Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and throughout the region," the statement said. "This assistance brings the US contribution to the Venezuelan regional crisis response to more than $376 million."

"We salute Colombia and neighbouring countries for their continued support as well, and we call upon other donors to make or increase contributions to help address the crisis," the statement added.

Colombia has received more Venezuelan migrants than any other country - it is now home to more than 1.4 million. Hundreds of thousands of others reside in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and other countries.

Colombia has repeatedly lamented the lack of funding to help migrants, saying other humanitarian crises in Syria, South Sudan and Myanmar have received many times more in donations from the international community.

The United States said last week it will provide 12,000 doses of antiretroviral HIV medication to Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, part of efforts to better manage healthcare for migrants and prevent the spread of the disease.

Unlike its neighbours, Colombia has not imposed stringent immigration requirements, instead of encouraging migrants who entered the country informally to register with authorities so they can access social services.

The government of Colombia frequently spars with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over security and the migration crisis.

The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relations and Colombia, along with the United States, numbers among the more than 50 countries that do not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's president, instead of backing opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday.

The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday. More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled their home country in recent years amid political upheaval and widespread shortages of food and medicine. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) head Mark Green made the announcement during a visit to the border city of Cucuta, Colombia, an epicentre of arriving migrants, the State Department said in a statement. Ivanka Trump, White House adviser and daughter of US President Donald Trump, is also on the visit. Colombia is the first stop on a Latin American tour that will also take her, Sullivan and Green to Argentina and Paraguay. "This additional funding provides vital support, including emergency food and health assistance, to vulnerable Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and throughout the region," the statement said. "This assistance brings the US contribution to the Venezuelan regional crisis response to more than $376 million." "We salute Colombia and neighbouring countries for their continued support as well, and we call upon other donors to make or increase contributions to help address the crisis," the statement added. Colombia has received more Venezuelan migrants than any other country - it is now home to more than 1.4 million. Hundreds of thousands of others reside in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and other countries. Colombia has repeatedly lamented the lack of funding to help migrants, saying other humanitarian crises in Syria, South Sudan and Myanmar have received many times more in donations from the international community. The United States said last week it will provide 12,000 doses of antiretroviral HIV medication to Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, part of efforts to better manage healthcare for migrants and prevent the spread of the disease. Unlike its neighbours, Colombia has not imposed stringent immigration requirements, instead of encouraging migrants who entered the country informally to register with authorities so they can access social services. The government of Colombia frequently spars with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over security and the migration crisis. The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relations and Colombia, along with the United States, numbers among the more than 50 countries that do not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's president, instead of backing opposition leader Juan Guaido.

US to give additional $120 million to help Venezuelan migrants

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday said he would take "seriously" the recommendations of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet following their meeting in Caracas.

"There are always going to be different criteria in every country, but I told her that she can count on me, as president, to take her suggestions, her recommendations and her proposals seriously," Maduro said as he saw off Bachelet from the Miraflores presidential palace.

He later vowed to prosecute people accused of human rights abuses.

Bachelet's visit came amid the country's ongoing economic and political crisis that the UN says has caused some four million Venezuelans to flee since 2015 amid hyperinflation and a shortage of basic goods.

Bachelet has previously criticized the Venezuelan government's response to the crisis and called for Caracas to respect "everyone's fundamental right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression."

Yet it was the Maduro government who invited former Chilean president Bachelet, saying the visit would be an opportunity to show its adherence to human rights and the "negative repercussions" of sanctions that prevent Venezuela from selling its oil to the United States.

During her visit, Bachelet also met with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as Venezuela's interim president by some 50 countries, including the United States.

Rights groups had pushed Bachelet to raise the issue of 715 people they say are jailed for political reasons, a claim Maduro's government rejects. 
Guaido said after their meeting that Bachelet would call "for the release of political prisoners" in a forthcoming report.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday said he would take "seriously" the recommendations of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet following their meeting in Caracas.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday said he would take "seriously" the recommendations of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet following their meeting in Caracas. "There are always going to be different criteria in every country, but I told her that she can count on me, as president, to take her suggestions, her recommendations and her proposals seriously," Maduro said as he saw off Bachelet from the Miraflores presidential palace. He later vowed to prosecute people accused of human rights abuses. Bachelet's visit came amid the country's ongoing economic and political crisis that the UN says has caused some four million Venezuelans to flee since 2015 amid hyperinflation and a shortage of basic goods. Bachelet has previously criticized the Venezuelan government's response to the crisis and called for Caracas to respect "everyone's fundamental right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression." Yet it was the Maduro government who invited former Chilean president Bachelet, saying the visit would be an opportunity to show its adherence to human rights and the "negative repercussions" of sanctions that prevent Venezuela from selling its oil to the United States. During her visit, Bachelet also met with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as Venezuela's interim president by some 50 countries, including the United States. Rights groups had pushed Bachelet to raise the issue of 715 people they say are jailed for political reasons, a claim Maduro's government rejects. Guaido said after their meeting that Bachelet would call "for the release of political prisoners" in a forthcoming report.

United Nations rights recommendations to be taken 'seriously': Maduro

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido renewed calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign on Friday while campaigning in the birthplace of former leader Hugo Chavez, following inconclusive talks in Norway to end the country's crisis.

Guaido -- who is backed by the United States and is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries -- has been leading a push to oust leftist firebrand Maduro, who has presided over a crumbling economy after succeeding Chavez in 2013.

During a brief speech before a handful of followers in the small town of Sabaneta, Guaido called for a "large mobilization" of protesters to rally against the government over shortages of gasoline and prolonged blackouts in the country.&nbsp;

"The real solution is, without a doubt, to leave once and for all and let us live in peace," he said of Maduro.&nbsp;

Sabaneta&nbsp;has been turned into a shrine for the hugely popular Chavez, who mixed a larger-than-life personality with a man-of-the-people style and generously-funded social programs through oil revenues.&nbsp;

Dozens of walls in the town are adorned with murals of the leftist leader, who died of cancer in 2013, and a bronze and granite statue of the former president, donated by the Rosneft oil company on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stands six blocks away from where Guaido spoke on Friday.

But Maduro struggled to fill his mentor's shoes and he quickly lost favour after a fall in oil prices in 2014 precipitated a massive economic crisis.

Sabaneta resident Mireya Moreno, 61, said that even locals who had staunchly supported Chavez had turned against his successor.

"We have hope that Juan Guaido will take us out of this hole we are in," the teacher told.

Venezuela is reeling from astronomical rises in the cost of consumer goods, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting an inflation rate of 10 million per cent by the end of the year.

Representatives of Guaido and Maduro met face-to-face in Oslo this week as part of talks mediated by Norway aimed at resolving the country's political deadlock.

Further talks are planned despite the first meeting ending without agreement.

Maduro's government will go into the next round proposing the "release" of resources for medical transplants which are blocked by US sanctions, the leader said Friday.&nbsp;

Four children have died in the last month waiting for bone marrow transplants at the main pediatric hospital in Caracas.&nbsp;

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido renewed calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign on Friday while campaigning in the birthplace of former leader Hugo Chavez, following inconclusive talks in Norway to end the country's crisis.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido renewed calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign on Friday while campaigning in the birthplace of former leader Hugo Chavez, following inconclusive talks in Norway to end the country's crisis. Guaido -- who is backed by the United States and is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries -- has been leading a push to oust leftist firebrand Maduro, who has presided over a crumbling economy after succeeding Chavez in 2013. During a brief speech before a handful of followers in the small town of Sabaneta, Guaido called for a "large mobilization" of protesters to rally against the government over shortages of gasoline and prolonged blackouts in the country. "The real solution is, without a doubt, to leave once and for all and let us live in peace," he said of Maduro. Sabaneta has been turned into a shrine for the hugely popular Chavez, who mixed a larger-than-life personality with a man-of-the-people style and generously-funded social programs through oil revenues. Dozens of walls in the town are adorned with murals of the leftist leader, who died of cancer in 2013, and a bronze and granite statue of the former president, donated by the Rosneft oil company on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stands six blocks away from where Guaido spoke on Friday. But Maduro struggled to fill his mentor's shoes and he quickly lost favour after a fall in oil prices in 2014 precipitated a massive economic crisis. Sabaneta resident Mireya Moreno, 61, said that even locals who had staunchly supported Chavez had turned against his successor. "We have hope that Juan Guaido will take us out of this hole we are in," the teacher told. Venezuela is reeling from astronomical rises in the cost of consumer goods, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting an inflation rate of 10 million per cent by the end of the year. Representatives of Guaido and Maduro met face-to-face in Oslo this week as part of talks mediated by Norway aimed at resolving the country's political deadlock. Further talks are planned despite the first meeting ending without agreement. Maduro's government will go into the next round proposing the "release" of resources for medical transplants which are blocked by US sanctions, the leader said Friday. Four children have died in the last month waiting for bone marrow transplants at the main pediatric hospital in Caracas.

Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido renews call for Maduro to step down after Norway talks

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido vowed to press ahead with street protests after talks with government officials hosted by Norway ended on Wednesday without progress towards resolving the South American country's long-running political crisis.

At the meeting in Oslo, opposition delegates repeated calls for President Nicolas Maduro to step down and allow a transitional government to organize presidential elections to bring an end to a political crisis in the OPEC nation.

Guaido in January assumed a rival interim presidency, citing Venezuela's constitution, and denounced Maduro's government as illegitimate after he secured re-election last year in a vote widely criticized as rigged.

Most Western nations have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president but Maduro has repeatedly said that he will not step aside. He has denounced Guaido as a coup monger and a puppet of Washington.

"There was no immediate agreement, so the chance that we have today is to remain in the streets," Guaido told Fox Business Network, speaking via an interpreter. "We want to reach a solution to the conflict."

In an earlier statement, Guaido's office said that the opposition remained willing to continue with the mediation as long as there were conditions for progress, but that it would not abandon its roadmap for new elections.

Norway's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that envoys for Venezuela's government and opposition had shown a "willingness" to make some headway.

"The parties have demonstrated their willingness to move forward in the search for an agreed-upon and constitutional solution for the country, which includes political, economic and electoral matters," the foreign ministry said.

In its statement, Oslo called on both sides to show discretion in public comments so as not to damage the process.

In remarks on national television, Maduro said the government had prepared the ground for the Norway mediation with months of secret talks. Opposition sources have also said there have been contacts with elements of the government for months, particularly in the run up to an abortive April 30 military uprising.

"The only way forward is dialogue," Maduro said. "We want a peace deal."

Economic collapse has driven more than 3 million Venezuelans abroad in recent years, while political protests have often turned deadly.

Intelligence agents have detained several Guaido allies and the Supreme Court this month has accused 14 opposition lawmakers of crimes including treason and conspiracy.

Norway has a long tradition of conflict mediation, but has its work cut out solving the Venezuelan crisis, which has become a geopolitical football as dozens of Western and Latin American nations recognise Guaido, while Russia and China back Maduro.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence wrote on Twitter that he spoke with Guaido by phone on Wednesday, but did not say if they discussed the Oslo talks.

"Told him America will continue to stand with Venezuela until freedom is restored! The people of Venezuela are suffering under dictatorship and oppression. Nicolas Maduro must go," Pence said.

Guaido told Fox Business Network that Pence has expressed concern for the collapse of public services in Venezuela, which is suffering lack of gasoline, water shortages and rolling blackouts in many parts of the country. A Guaido aide said the two men spoke for 45 minutes.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido vowed to press ahead with street protests after talks with government officials hosted by Norway ended on Wednesday without progress towards resolving the South American country's long-running political crisis.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido vowed to press ahead with street protests after talks with government officials hosted by Norway ended on Wednesday without progress towards resolving the South American country's long-running political crisis. At the meeting in Oslo, opposition delegates repeated calls for President Nicolas Maduro to step down and allow a transitional government to organize presidential elections to bring an end to a political crisis in the OPEC nation. Guaido in January assumed a rival interim presidency, citing Venezuela's constitution, and denounced Maduro's government as illegitimate after he secured re-election last year in a vote widely criticized as rigged. Most Western nations have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president but Maduro has repeatedly said that he will not step aside. He has denounced Guaido as a coup monger and a puppet of Washington. "There was no immediate agreement, so the chance that we have today is to remain in the streets," Guaido told Fox Business Network, speaking via an interpreter. "We want to reach a solution to the conflict." In an earlier statement, Guaido's office said that the opposition remained willing to continue with the mediation as long as there were conditions for progress, but that it would not abandon its roadmap for new elections. Norway's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that envoys for Venezuela's government and opposition had shown a "willingness" to make some headway. "The parties have demonstrated their willingness to move forward in the search for an agreed-upon and constitutional solution for the country, which includes political, economic and electoral matters," the foreign ministry said. In its statement, Oslo called on both sides to show discretion in public comments so as not to damage the process. In remarks on national television, Maduro said the government had prepared the ground for the Norway mediation with months of secret talks. Opposition sources have also said there have been contacts with elements of the government for months, particularly in the run up to an abortive April 30 military uprising. "The only way forward is dialogue," Maduro said. "We want a peace deal." Economic collapse has driven more than 3 million Venezuelans abroad in recent years, while political protests have often turned deadly. Intelligence agents have detained several Guaido allies and the Supreme Court this month has accused 14 opposition lawmakers of crimes including treason and conspiracy. Norway has a long tradition of conflict mediation, but has its work cut out solving the Venezuelan crisis, which has become a geopolitical football as dozens of Western and Latin American nations recognise Guaido, while Russia and China back Maduro. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence wrote on Twitter that he spoke with Guaido by phone on Wednesday, but did not say if they discussed the Oslo talks. "Told him America will continue to stand with Venezuela until freedom is restored! The people of Venezuela are suffering under dictatorship and oppression. Nicolas Maduro must go," Pence said. Guaido told Fox Business Network that Pence has expressed concern for the collapse of public services in Venezuela, which is suffering lack of gasoline, water shortages and rolling blackouts in many parts of the country. A Guaido aide said the two men spoke for 45 minutes.

Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido vows protests as Oslo talks produce no deal

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