President Nicolas Maduro announced on Thursday the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the United States having broken off diplomatic ties with President Donald Trump's government the day before. Maduro made the call during a special session at the Supreme Court in which he accused the US of pushing opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela's acting president on Wednesday, into attempting a coup d'etat. Venezuela's powerful military high command threw its weight behind President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday as opposition leader Juan Guaido pressed a direct challenge to his authority with the backing of the United States and key Latin American allies.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, a general, accused Guaido of attempting a "coup d'etat" and said Maduro, 56, is "the legitimate president."

Eight generals who command of strategic regions of the country reiterated their "absolute loyalty and subordination" to the socialist leader in messages carried on state television.

Some ended their statements by adding: "Always loyal, never traitors." In Washington, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned the Maduro government against the use of force against demonstrators in a speech to the Organization of American States.

"The time for debate is done. The regime of former president Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate," Pompeo said. Guaido, 35, set the showdown in motion Wednesday by proclaiming himself "acting president" and was swiftly recognized by the United States and about a dozen regional governments, including those of Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Mexico, Cuba and Bolivia, all in the hands of leftist governments, pledged support for Maduro. Further afield, Maduro received support from allies Russia and China while France and Canada backed Guaido.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019