Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING National Assembly head declares himself Venezuela's "acting president"

#UPDATE Moments earlier, the Maduro-loyalist-dominated Supreme Court ordered a criminal investigation of the opposition-controlled National Assembly

#BREAKING Trump recognizes Venezuela opposition leader Guaido as "interim president"

#BREAKING OAS chief recognizes Venezuelan lawmaker as acting president

#BREAKING Brazil backs opposition leader Guaido as Venezuela's interim president

#BREAKING Colombia backs Venezuela opposition leader Guaido as "president"

#BREAKING Mexico still backs Maduro as Venezuela president, says government spokesman

#BREAKING Venezuelan riot police clash with anti-Maduro protesters in Caracas: AFP

#BREAKING Venezuela's Maduro says he's breaking off diplomatic ties with US

#UPDATE The head of Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly proclaimed himself "acting president" Wednesday in a bid to oust leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, immediately winning the backing of regional powers led by the United States u.afp.com/J4kD

VIDEO: Anti-government protesters in Caracas commandeer a truck as hundreds look on and cheer, on a day when the US, Canada and several major South American nations recognized the head of the country's opposition-controlled legislature as the interim leader

#BREAKING Venezuela military rejects opposition leader's claim to be acting president, says minister

#BREAKING Cuba expresses "firm support" for Venezuela's Maduro after "coup attempt," says minister

#BREAKING 13 dead in two days of Venezuela unrest, says rights group

Tens of thousands of opposition protesters burst into ecstatic cheering and shouts of joy in the streets of Caracas after parliament leader Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president u.afp.com/J4ZG

#BREAKING Maduro lacks authority to snap ties, expel diplomats, says US

A show of hands: Venezuelans raise their hands during a mass opposition rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas

📷 Federico Parra

Major South American nations and US recognise Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim leader
u.afp.com/J44q

📷 Crowds protest against Venezuelan President Maduro in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Guatemala City

Venezuelans living in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Ecuador gather to protest against Nicolas Maduro's government and to cheer opposition politician Juan Guaido after he proclaimed himself interim leader amid a deepening political drama

#BREAKING Russia says foreign interference in Venezuela 'path to lawlessness, bloodshed'

#BREAKING Kremlin slams 'usurpation' of power in Venezuela, calls Maduro 'legitimate' leader

#BREAKING French President Macron hails 'courage' of Venezuelan opposition protesters

#BREAKING French President Macron says 'Europe supports restoration of democracy' in Venezuela

#BREAKING Spain says elections 'only way out' of Venezuela crisis

VIDEO: 🇻🇪 Venezuelans living in Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have gathered to protest against Nicolas Maduro's government and to cheer opposition politician Juan #Guaido after he proclaimed himself interim leader amid a deepening political drama #Maduro

#UPDATE Venezuelan leader Nicolas #Maduro prepared to rally his military supporters Thursday as the US and key allies backed a challenge from his leading rival Juan #Guaido who declared himself "acting president" u.afp.com/J4UN

#BREAKING Venezuela military slams opposition leader's presidential claim as 'coup'

#BREAKING Britain says Maduro 'not legitimate leader' of Venezuela

#BREAKING Pompeo urges all Organization of American States members to recognize Venezuela's Guaido

#BREAKING Pompeo warns Venezuela's Maduro against use of force

#BREAKING Putin expresses support for Maduro in phone conversation: Kremlin

#BREAKING Pope backs "all efforts" to avoid suffering in Venezuela

#BREAKING US requests UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela

#BREAKING Maduro announces closure of Venezuela embassy in United States

#UPDATE Venezuela's powerful military threw its weight behind Nicolas Maduro as the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido pressed a direct challenge to his authority, and the fate of the crisis-wracked country hung in the balance u.afp.com/J4qD