Nicolas Maduro in New York, US to rule Venezuela, says Trump; react countries

NEW YORK: Reports say Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been flown to New York. US President Donald Trump has claimed that they will rule Venezuela until a 'fair and just' change is in place. The announcement came at a press conference at Trump's Florida mansion, hours after US special forces raided Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The US action has been widely criticized. Countries around the world are reacting cautiously to the issue.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will have to face criminal charges. She said Nicolas Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machineguns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices against the United Sates. In this situation, Maduro will face trial in the United States.

Trump informed that the US would control the administration of Venezuela until the transfer of power takes place and that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez agreed to cooperate. The action was condemned by Russia and China, among others. Venezuela is a South American country with a left-leaning government. The US has been an enemy since Hugo Chavez became president in 1999. It is one of the countries with the largest oil reserves in the world. The Venezuelan government alleged that Trump's target is oil reserves.

Air strikes were carried out on military bases in the capital, Caracas, early yesterday morning. Maduro was captured from his residence at Fort Tijuana military base. He was then transported out of the country by helicopter. More than 150 aircraft and helicopters were part of the mission. The Venezuelan army retaliated, but to no avail.