Fatimah Otunsanya
Countries like Iran, Russia, Colombia, and Cuba have reacted to the capture of Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro by the United States.
US President, Donald Trump had announced the capture of Maduro and his wife.
Trump said they were flown out of the country after their capture.
But the Venezuelan government charged its US counterpart for proof of life for Maduro and his wife.
It also accused the US government of “extremely serious military aggression” by Washington while declaring a state of emergency as several leaders allied with Caracas denounced the US action
However, in their separate reactions, Russia condemned the US military action as “an act of armed aggression against Venezuela.”
A statement by Russia’s Foreign Ministry said: “This is deeply concerning and condemnable.
“The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.”
Iran, on its part, said it “strongly condemns the US military attack on Venezuela and a flagrant violation of the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called Maduro’s capture as US “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America, which would lead to a humanitarian crisis.
Colombia is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this year, and leftist leader Petro called for the body to meet “immediately.”
Cuba, an ally of Venezuela, denounced what it called “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people” according to a statement by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who urged a “response from the international community” following a “criminal attack” on Caracas.