Military backs Maduro over standoff

Russia, Turkey support Venezuela's president, while the West turns up heat

Venezuela's military has thrown its weight behind President Nicolas Maduro as the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido pressed a direct challenge to his authority.

As the death toll from days of street protests jumped to 26, Maduro announced on Thursday the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the United States, a day after Washington declared his government "illegitimate."

The oil-rich but economically devastated country was plunged into uncertainty on Wednesday when Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the National Assembly, proclaimed himself "acting president" - earning swift endorsement from Washington and some regional powers.

Flanked by military top brass, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, himself a general, declared the 56-year-old Maduro "the legitimate president" - and vowed to defend his authority against an attempted "coup d'etat".

Following Padrino's lead, eight generals in turn reiterated their "absolute loyalty and subordination" to Maduro in messages carried on state television.

Also on Thursday, Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice, or TSJ, ratified Maduro's legitimate right to govern.

TSJ President Maikel Moreno rejected any move "to usurp a popularly elected post", after Guaido declared himself interim president.

The opposition's move aims "to ridicule the democratic will of the Venezuelan people" and "break with the constitutional order duly established in the country", Moreno said.

He also warned against any attempt to overthrow the government "with the consent of foreign governments".

Maduro has described Washington's position as "childish".

He welcomed international initiatives to broker talks between his government and the opposition to overcome the country's political crisis.

Maduro thanked countries that backed his government by refusing to recognize Guaido, and hailed an initiative put forward by Mexico and Uruguay to promote a negotiated solution to the political crisis.

"To the government of Mexico and Uruguay I publicly say: I agree with a diplomatic initiative for national dialogue in Venezuela," Maduro said.

In Washington, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo kept up the pressure on Maduro, as the US called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the crisis.

The US State Department meanwhile ordered its non-emergency staff to leave Venezuela but refused to comply with a full expulsion, saying it would maintain diplomatic ties with "the government of interim president Guaido".

US intervention

US President Donald Trump meanwhile has openly mused about military intervention in Venezuela, saying "all options are on the table", and analysts suggest he could consider further economic sanctions against the country, a third of whose oil production goes to the US.

The Republican president has found rare support from the Democratic Party over Venezuela.

Russia on Thursday accused Washington of stoking street protests and called Maduro the legitimate president.

"We consider the attempt to usurp sovereign authority in Venezuela to contradict and violate the basis and principles of international law," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said an outside military intervention could have "catastrophic consequences".

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan offered support for Maduro too. "My brother Maduro! Stand tall, we stand by you!" presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, writing on Twitter, quoted Erdogan as saying.

China on Thursday voiced support for Venezuela's efforts in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and stability as well as opposition to foreign interference in the South American country's internal affairs.

"China has consistently pursued the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and we oppose foreign interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, calling on the international community to jointly contribute to achieving the goal.

Maduro has also retained the support of Mexico, Cuba and Bolivia.

AFP, Xinhua, Reuters and AP contributed to this story.