Maduro says he is ready to negotiate with US-backed opposition

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday he was ready to sit down for talks with the country’s opposition and open to the possibility of third countries mediating, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.

Venezuela was plunged into political turmoil last week after the United States recognized Guaido, 35, as acting president, while Russia has continued to back Maduro.

“I am ready to sit at the negotiation table with the opposition for us to talk for the benefit of Venezuela, for the sake of peace and its future,” RIA quoted Maduro as saying.

Asked about the possibility of third countries mediating in the standoff, Maduro was quoted as saying: “There are several governments, organizations globally, which are demonstrating their sincere concern about what is happening in Venezuela, they have called for a dialogue.”

In the interview with RIA Novosti, Maduro also said he would support early parliamentary elections.

“It would be very good to conduct parliamentary elections at an earlier stage, it would be a good form of political discussion,” Maduro said.

“Presidential elections in Venezuela have taken place, and if imperialists want new elections to let them wait until 2025,” he said in an apparent reference to Washington.

Maduro has been in charge since 2013 but his re-election in May was branded illegitimate by the European Union, United States, and Organisation of American States.

The embattled leader also implied he was firmly in charge of the army whose support is crucial.

Maduro also claimed that US President Donald Trump had ordered the government of Colombia to assassinate him.

“If something happens to me one day then Donald Trump and Colombian President Ivan Duque will be responsible for everything that is happening to me,” he said, adding however that he was in good hands.

“At the same time, I am protected. We have a good system of defense in place and moreover, we have more significant protection this is protection from God who will give me a long life,” Maduro added.

Russia has denounced the opposition’s “usurpation of power”, calling Maduro the crisis-hit country’s legitimate leader.

Russia and Venezuela have a long history of ties and Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez, known for his tirades against the United States, was a welcome guest at the Kremlin.