Military Action In Venezuela Is Possible "If That's What's Required" - Pompeo

Violent clashes between pro-Guaido protesters and government security forces started a day earlier after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself "interim president" of the country earlier this year, called on Venezuela's civilians and the military to act against the government.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated that military action in Venezuela is possible "if that's what's required", but he would prefer a peaceful transition, Fox business has reported.

"Military action is possible. If that's what's required, that's what the United States will do", he stressed.

The statement comes after Pompeo earlier told CNN that Maduro was ready to leave his country for Havana earlier in the day in light of the attempted coup, but was convinced by Moscow to stay in Venezuela.

Later Wednesday, Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton told CNN that Pompeo planned to discuss the situation in Venezuela with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later in the day. "Secretary Pompeo will be addressing his counterpart," Bolton said. "We have a lot of conversations with the Russians," he added.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro himself slammed Pompeo's claim, branding it a lie and manipulation. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, for his part, said that "fake news was a very sad way to acknowledge that a coup supported by the United States failed".