EU recognises Guaidó as Venezuela president

MADRID, Feb 04 (Agencies): The UK, France, Germany, Spain and other European countries have officially recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela.

It comes after President Nicolás Maduro defiantly rejected the EU's Sunday deadline to call snap elections.

Mr Guaidó declared himself interim leader last month and won US backing.

As pressure mounted on Mr Maduro to step down, he said he could not rule out the possibility of civil war.

Russia, one of the main allies of Maduro's regime, slammed what it dubbed European "interference" in the oil-rich but impoverished Latin American country, saying it was an attempt "to legitimise usurped power."

Already recognised by the United States, Canada, Australia and several Latin American countries, Guaido is trying to force the socialist leader from power, aiming to set up a transitional government and hold new presidential elections.