UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned Venezuela's authorities on Wednesday not to use deadly force against demonstrators after opposition leader Juan Guaido called for protests against President Nicolas Maduro.
Guterres spoke separately to Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza late Tuesday and to aides to Guaido after clashes earlier Tuesday left dozens injured in response to Guaido's call for the military to rise up against Maduro.
"The secretary general reiterates his call to all sides to exercise maximum restraint and warns against the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Tensions in Venezuela have soared after Guaido declared himself acting president on January 23, a move recognized by the United States and some 50 other countries. Russia and China however continue to back Maduro as the legitimate leader and have accused the United States of foreign interference.
The United Nations has offered to help broker a dialogue between Guaido and Maduro to help end the standoff.
On Tuesday, Guterres appealed to all sides to avoid violence and called for immediate steps to restore calm.
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