MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US sending humanitarian aid to Venezuela on request from interim president Guadió

Saturday saw thousands take to the streets of the capital Caracas for protests in support of both President Maduro and Mr. Guaidó.

The US says it is sending aid to crisis-hit Venezuela following a request from Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader who has declared himself interim president. Mr Guaidó's move last month won swift backing from the US and others but triggered a power struggle.

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has accused him of mounting a coup and retains major international allies. He has dismissed US offers of aid as a pretext for military intervention.

Saturday saw thousands take to the streets of the capital Caracas for protests in support of both President Maduro and Mr. Guaidó.

Crucially, Mr. Maduro retains the support of the military, but ahead of the demonstrations Mr. Guaidó was given a boost after an air force general - Francisco Yanez - became the highest-ranking military official yet to pledge support for the opposition leader.

Mr. Guaidó says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting Mr Maduro and also reached out to China, one of Mr Maduro's most important backers.

Mr Guaidó does not control any territory in Venezuela, so instead he is planning to set up collection centers in neighboring countries where Venezuelans have fled to. He said he wanted to set up an international coalition to gather aid at three points, and press Venezuela's army to let it into the country.

In a tweet, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said plans were being advanced this weekend.

Answering the call of President Guaido, the U.S. is mobilizing & transporting humanitarian aid for the people of #Venezuela. I applaud the hard work of USAID, the State Department and their partners in preparing critical supplies to move forward this weekend.

Mr Maduro has rejected letting aid into the country, telling supporters on Saturday “we've never been nor are we a country of beggars”.

This Sunday sees the expiration of a deadline set by several European countries - including France, Britain, Germany and Spain - for Maduro to call presidential elections. If he does not, they say, they will recognize Mr Guaidó as president.

Maduro says he remains Venezuela's legitimate president and has rejected new presidential polls.