Pompeo vows support for Venezuela's Guaido ahead of march

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has promised what he termed unwavering support to Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as he prepares a new rally aimed at deposing incumbent President Nicolas Maduro. The US State Department said, Pompeo spoke to Guaido over phone yesterday.

Guaido is planning a fresh rally against the President on Friday, the Independence Day holiday.

US along with major Latin American countries had recognized Guaido as the interim leader of Venezuela in



January. 

President Maduro, however, withstood a US-led pressure campaign that includes sanctions on Venezuela's crucial oil exports. The incumbent still enjoys support from Russia, China and Cuba.

According to the United Nations, some four million people have fled Venezuela since 2015. 

The country's imploding economy has resulted in high unemployment and shortages of food and medicine, and hundreds of thousands of people are said to be in need of humanitarian aid.