Iran happy Venezuelans ‘defeated coup’

Iran expresses renewed support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as the opposition called for a huge May Day protest after armed clashes erupted in the capital Caracas.

Maduro says he had defeated an attempted coup last night led by his opponent, self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido.

“We believe the constitutional government of Venezuela needs to continue,” Iranian Foreign Ninister Mohammad Javad Zarif tells reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue in Doha.

“We are happy that the people of Venezuela defeated the coup, but we continue to believe in the need for discussions as the government has suggested,” he says. “We have always encouraged intra-Venezuelan dialogue.”

Guaido, who is recognized as acting president by more than 50 governments including those of the United States and Brazil, said troops had joined his campaign to oust Maduro, who is backed by China and Russia.

— AFP