Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro rejected demands by European countries to call elections within eight days in an interview broadcast on Sunday, insisting that his country was "not tied" to Europe. "They should withdraw this ultimatum. No one can give us an ultimatum," Maduro told CNN Turk in an interview dubbed into Turkish from Spanish. European powers including France and Germany on Saturday warned they would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as president unless Maduro calls elections within eight days. Bolstered by growing international support, Guaido is increasing pressure on the rule of Maduro by calling for new elections and street protests, and offering amnesty to members of the military who defect. The first major military officer to publicly switch his support to Guaido was Venezuela's military attache in Washington, Army Colonel Jose Luis Silva. In a video posted online Saturday Silva urged "my brothers in the national armed forces" to recognize Guaido "as the only legitimate president," in accordance with Venezuela's constitution. He said the constitution does not allow the military "to attack our equals, our brothers... Don't forget comrade commander, captain, everyone in a command position — we cannot nor should we attack the people." Guaido, who has galvanized a previously divided opposition, is offering an amnesty to anyone in the military who disavows Maduro, even suggesting amnesty for Maduro himself. At a Caracas rally the 35-year-old opposition leader said he will announce a date for "a grand march" for change, and called on supporters to distribute on Sunday print and electronic copies of amnesty measures approved by the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which he has headed since Jan. 5. Some 26 people have been killed and more than 350 people have been detained in clashes this week between anti-Maduro activists and security forces, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Friday. The United States on Saturday pressed all nations to "stand with the forces of freedom" in Venezuela, encouraged by a tougher European line on Maduro. Russia, however, backed the embattled Venezuelan president. At a special UN Security Council session US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described Maduro as part of an "illegitimate mafia state" responsible for Venezuela's economic collapse. Pompeo asked that all nations recognize Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, and urged them to end financial transactions with Maduro's government, which has struggled to pay bills despite the country's oil wealth. Pompeo denounced Russia and China, which have stood by Maduro, saying that they were "propping up a failed regime in the hopes of recovering billions of dollars in ill-considered investments and assistance made over the years". Russia denounced the United States for interference. "Venezuela does not pose any threat to peace and security. The intention of the United States is to orchestrate a coup d'etat," said Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia. — Agencies
