Mr Maduro, who is currently embroiled in a leadership dispute with Juan Guaido, confirmed the break in relations with Colombia as the Venezuelan military used tear gas against volunteers unloading aid near the the Colombia-Venezuela border. The footage taken on the Francisco de Paula bridge along the border was sent by a Colombian government source showed on Saturday.The bridge, near the town of Urena, Venezuela, is one of three across which opposition leader Mr Guaido is hoping to pass much-needed food and medicine.
The source said that Venezuelan soldiers had also fired rubber bullets – but it was not immediately possible to verify.
The clashes occurred as Venezuelan opposition leader Mr Guaido – who has been recognised as Venezuela’s interim leader by Colombia, the US and UK among other countries – gave a personal send off to an aid caravan from the Colombian city of Cucuta.
Mr Guaido briefly boarded one of a dozen trucks carrying US-backed humanitarian aid before they set off towards the border, where they were pushed back by Venezuelan security forces.
Colombia’s government said their contents would be unloaded and transported by “human chains” that have formed on the road that leads toward Venezuela.
One truck in a convoy attempting to bring humanitarian aid into Venezuela from Colombia went up in flames sending plumes of black smoke into the sky, footage shared on a Venezuelan television channel showed.
Crowds then started removing boxes of supplies from a second truck.
Mr Maduro said in a speech: “Patience is exhausted, I can’t bear it anymore, we can’t keep putting up with Colombian territory being used for attacks against Venezuela.
“For that reason, I have decided to break all political and diplomatic relations with Colombia’s fascist government.”
He said the ambassador and consular staff would have to leave Venezuela within 24 hours.
Leaders of Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party have called Mr Guaido’s aid effort a veiled invasion backed by the US.
They have urged Donald Trump – who has publicly backed Mr Guaido as Venezuelan leader – to help the nation by lifting crippling financial and oil sector sanctions.
Mr Maduro blames the country’s dire situation on US sanctions that have blocked funds and hobbled the OPEC member’s oil industry.