Delcy Rodriguez takes oath as Venezuela's acting president

Delcy Rodriguez has officially taken office as Venezuelas acting president, just hours after Nicolas Maduro was captured by the United States, the CNN reported. The oath of office was administered on Monday (local time) afternoon by her brother, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez. As per CNN, Rodriguez said she assumed the role with a heavy heart over what she described as the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. I come as the executive vice president of the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros, to take the oath of office, she said. Meanwhile, the ambassadors of China, Russia and Iran, all close allies of Venezuela, were among the first foreign diplomats to congratulate Delcy Rodriguez after she was sworn in as the countrys acting president on Monday, CNN reported. Shortly after Rodriguez took the oath of office, she was embraced by Chinas ambassador to Venezuela, Lan Hu, followed by Russian Ambassador Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov. Irans Ambassador Ali Chegini then bowed toward her with his hands clasped in a gesture of respect. The three diplomats stood side by side during the swearing-in ceremony, according to CNN. China, Russia and Iran have each condemned the US military operation carried out over the weekend that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his transfer to New York to face trial, CNN reported. Meanwhile, supporters of Venezuelas ousted President Nicolas Maduro took to the streets of Caracas on Monday as Delcy Rodriguez was formally sworn in as the countrys interim leader, CNN reported. Hundreds of demonstrators were seen carrying Venezuelan flags and holding placards backing the deposed leader, who earlier pleaded not guilty in a New York court following his capture in a US military operation on Saturday. -- ANI

स्रोत: M Rediff