The United States on Friday signaled it was ready to step up economic measures to try to drive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power. Some U.S. diplomats left the embassy in Caracas, and Russia vowed to back its socialist South American ally.
The U.S. Treasury Department stopped short of announcing a freeze on Venezuela's U.S. assets and accounts but said it would take steps to ensure commercial transactions are "consistent" with its recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate head of state.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday was to urge members of the United Nations Security Council to recognize Guaido. Washington requested the meeting of the 15-member council after a string of countries threw their weight behind Guaido, who heads Venezuela's congress, and urged Maduro to step down.