Violence Against US Diplomats to Be Met 'With Significant Response' - Bolton

18:34 GMT, 27 January 2019

On Sunday, the last group of US diplomats left Venezuela, according to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who noted that he had tasked the nation's foreign ministry to initiate talks with Washington.

Sputnik

Washington will respond to violence and intimidation directed toward US diplomats or Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, stated John Bolton, the White House national security adviser, on Sunday.

"Any violence and intimidation against US diplomatic personnel, Venezuela's democratic leader, Juan Guiado [sic], or the National Assembly itself would represent a grave assault on the rule of law and will be met with a significant response," Bolton tweeted.

Last Group of US Diplomats Left Venezuela - Maduro

26 January 2019, 23:49 GMT

Bolton's tweet comes after the Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, said earlier in the day that he had ordered the country's foreign ministry to begin talks with the US within 30 days on the creation of so-called offices of mutual interests.

Earlier, the US alongside a handful of other nations recognized Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela. Maduro quickly accused the Washington of organizing a coup in the country. Maduro cut off diplomatic relations with the US and demanded that US diplomats leave the country within 72 hours.

On Wednesday, Guaido, the speaker of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly, declared himself the country's interim president.