TRANSCRIPT
- Donald Trump declares the US will 'run' Venezuela after the capture of Nicolas Maduro
- Reaction in Australia to the US operation in Venezuela
- Australian teenager Indra Brown makes history again with her third World Cup medal
United States President Donald Trump is warning Colombia's leader that he will be next, after US troops seized Venezuela's President in an early morning attack.
The operation involved at least 150 aircraft and ground forces in the capital Caracas and surrounding areas.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has joined the leaders of Mexico, Brazil and Chile in denouncing the U-S military attack.
Mr Trump has now accused Mr Petro of drug trafficking and is threatening to do the same to him as he did with Mr Maduro.
"He's going to have himself some big problems if he doesn't wise up. They have cocaine factories where they make cocaine as you know and they sell right into the United States so he better wise up or he'll be next. He'll be next. I hope he's listening, he's gonna be next!"
The US President has also decared his administration will run Venezuela until there can be what he called a "safe, proper and judicious transition".
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Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has reportedly been sworn in as Venezuela's interim leader.
The country's Supreme Court has issued a ruling specifying that Ms Rodríguez assume the office of President to guarantee what it called administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation.
US President Donald Trump says Ms Rodríguez has now been sworn in as interim leader, adding that he has spoken to her, and she has indicated she is ready to work with his administration.
However, in a speech broadcast on Venezuelan state TV, Ms Rodríguez denounced the capture of Nicolás Maduro as "barbaric" and called for his immediate release.
Questioned by reporters on who he would support to lead Venezuela right now, Mr Trump ruled out backing Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate, Maria Corina Machado.
REPORTER: "Have you been in contact with her?"
TRUMP: "No, we haven't. I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman but she doesn't have the respect to be the president."
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Greens Senator David Shoebridge says the United States attack on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife is an affront to an international rules-based order.
He says the Albanese government must urgently reassess its relationship with the U-S; and start removing American troops and bases from Australia.
"And Australia needs to speak out as a middle country, a middle power that has an interest in an international rules-based order. This attack on Venezuela is illegal and unless Australia and like-minded country speak out it emboldens these kinds of actions. Vladimir Putin with his attack on Ukraine was a growth of international law and the world rallied around to oppose it. We must do the same with this attack on Venezuela."
In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not declare any support - or condemnation - of the US operation in Venezuela - but urged "all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy" and said Australia "will continue to support a peaceful and democratic transition".
Meanwhile, the Coalition says they welcome President Maduro's capture by U-S forces and the legal proceedings he is set to face in New York.
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Venezuelans living in Australia say the events of the last 24 hours has evoked what they call deep and complex emotions, as many in the community have experienced forced separation from family under Nicolas Maduro's rule.
In a statement, the Venezuelan Australian Association says there is a shared hope for a free, democratic, and united Venezuela where people can live with dignity, safety, and opportunity.
Dr Raul Sanchez Urribarri is an Associate Dean at La Trobe University and also a member of the Venezuelan community in Australia.
He says there are many emotions being felt at this time.
"Now how Venezuelans feel on the ground. I think they have one eye on what is coming next, but also one eye on day-today survival. The country is not changing from one day to the next because Maduro was captured and taken overseas and so forth. All the problems that we have continue today. High inflation lack of opportunities for people and the need to deal with day-to-day survival. Also for us, we would hope that at least repression doesn't increase in the context of uncertainty; and that certainly that human rights are respected."
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And to sport, in freestyle skiing, Australian teenager Indra Brown has continued her stunning rise, winning her first World Cup freeski halfpipe gold medal.
The 15-year-old's victory in the Canadian city of Calgary makes her the youngest Australian to win a World Cup event.
It also caps off a breakout rookie season, as only the second athlete* in freeski World Cup history to achieve a podium place in each of her first three World Cup starts.
The young Melburnian now leads the World Cup standings halfway through the season with 240 points.
She says she couldn't be happier.
"I am just full of joy, super happy as there was a line to run. And I skiied hard in today's conditions. So really happy. Stoked."
