Venezuela CRISIS: US intervention would trigger war ‘WORSE than Vietnam’ warns Maduro

He also claimed Trump had ordered his assassination. On January 23 opposition leader and National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared himself the legitimate President of Venezuela. The claim was swiftly recognised by the US and a string of South American nations.

Mr Maduro commented on Facebook: “We won’t allow a Vietnam in Latin America.

“If the aim of the United States is to invade, they will have a Vietnam worse than what they can imagine.”

Massive opposition protests are planned across Venezuela for Saturday.

On the same day the UK, France, Germany and other European countries have said they will recognise Mr Guaido as the legitimate President unless Mr Maduro calls fresh elections.

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Separately Mr Maduro claimed President Trump and the Columbian government are conspiring to kill him.

Speaking to Russian state TV he said: “Donald Trump has without doubt given an order to kill me and has told the government of Columbia and the Columbian mafia to kill me.

“If something happens to me one day, Donald Trump and Columbian president Ivan Duque will bear responsibility.”

On Tuesday Trump’s National Security Advisor John Bolton was photographed holding a note stating “5,000 troops to Columbia”.

Speaking to reporters on the same day he commented: “The president has made it clear that all options are on the table.”

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Russia, China and Iran are continuing to back the Maduro regime.

Yesterday the Venezuelan Attorney General banned Mr Guaido from leaving the country and froze his assets.

The Venezuelan economy has all but collapsed under the Maduro regime, with the country’s currently having an annual inflation rate of 80,000% last year.

According to the UN, 2.3 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2015.

source: express.co.uk