Venezuelan Army

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VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> 's embattled PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Nicolás Maduro has called Donald TrumpContent ='JJ Lin'> 's government a "gang of extremists" and blamed the US for his country's crisis.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Maduro said he would not allow humanitarian aid into VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> as it was a way for the US to justify an intervention.

"They are warmongering in order to take over VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> ," he said.

The US and most Western governments have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> .

Mr Maduro is under growing internal and international pressure to call early presidential elections amid a worsening economic crisis and accusations of widespread corruption and Human RightsContent ='JJ Lin'> violations.

Meanwhile, Mr Guaidó has called for new anti-government protests later on Tuesday.

Maduro on Trump: 'Extremist group'

Relations between the US and VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> were already fraught before PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Trump's administration became one of The FirstContent ='JJ Lin'> to back Mr Guaidó as interim leader.

VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> broke off diplomatic relations in response while Mr Trump said the use of military force remained "an option".

In a rare interview, Mr Maduro said he hoped "this extremist group in the White House is defeated by powerful world-wide Public OpinionContent ='JJ Lin'> ".

Speaking in the capital, Caracas, he told the BBC's Orla GuerinContent ='JJ Lin'> : "It's a political war, of the United StatesContent ='JJ Lin'> empire, of the interests of the extreme right that today is governing, of the Ku Klux Klan, that rules the White House, to take over VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> . "

The US, which accuses Mr Maduro's government of Human RightsContent ='JJ Lin'> violations and corruption, has led The InternationalContent ='JJ Lin'> pressure on the Venezuelan PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> to step down.

It has imposed a raft of economic measures on the country, including against the state-owned oil company, PDVSA, aiming to hit VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> 's Main SourceContent ='JJ Lin'> of revenue.

In recent years the US has frozen Mr Maduro's US assets, restricted VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> 's access to US markets and blocked dealings with those involved in the country's gold trade.

It has also criticised Mr Maduro's increased use of the courts and security forces to suppress political opposition.

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SecretaryContent ='JJ Lin'> of State Mike PompeoContent ='JJ Lin'> has called the government a "disastrous dictatorship" while National SecurityContent ='JJ Lin'> Advisor John BoltonContent ='JJ Lin'> said Mr Maduro was holding an "illegitimate claim to power".

When asked, in response to his Ku Klux Klan comment, if he believed Mr Trump was a "white supremacist", Mr Maduro said: "He is, publicly and openly. . They hate us, they belittle us, because they only believe in their own interests, and in the interests of the United StatesContent ='JJ Lin'> . "

Maduro on humanitarian aid: 'A charade'

The PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Content ='JJ Lin'> has rejected allowing foreign humanitarian aid into the country, a move that is being organised by the opposition. He said VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> had "the capacity to satisfy all the needs of its people" and did not have to "beg from anyone".

But for years Venezuelans have faced severe shortages of basic items such as medicine and food. Last year, the inflation rate saw prices doubling every 19 days on average.

Three million people, or 10% of the population, have left the country since the economy started to worsen in 2014, according to the UN. And Mr Guaidó says More ThanContent ='JJ Lin'> 300,000 Venezuelans are at "risk of dying".

Mr Maduro, who has blamed US sanctions for VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> 's economic woes, said the US intended to "create a humanitarian crisis in order to justify a military intervention".

"This is part of that charade. That's why, with all dignity, we tell them we don't want their crumbs, their toxic food, their left-overs. "

Maduro on calling elections: 'What's The PointContent ='JJ Lin'> ?'

Mr Maduro, in power since 2013, was re-elected to a second term last year but the elections were controversial with many opposition candidates barred from running or jailed, and claims of vote-rigging.

Head of the opposition-controlled National AssemblyContent ='JJ Lin'> , Mr Guaidó declared himself PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> on 23 January, saying The ConstitutionContent ='JJ Lin'> allowed him to assume power temporarily when The PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Content ='JJ Lin'> was deemed illegitimate.

Mr Maduro - who still has the support of Turkey, Russia and China and, crucially, of the Venezuelan ArmyContent ='JJ Lin'> - said he did not see the need for early presidential elections.

"What's the logic, reasoning, to repeat an election?" he asked.

He also said only "about 10" governments supported Mr Guaidó - in Fact , - and that they were trying to "impose a government that nobody has elected".

"The extremists of the White House have taken it upon themselves to carry out a coup in VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> . "

nicolás maduro, venezuela crisis, donald trump, venezuela, juan guaidó

Source of news: bbc.com