WASHINGTON, Jan 04 (Agencies): At least 40 people, including civilians and members of the armed forces, were killed in US airstrikes on Venezuela on Saturday, The New York Times reported, citing a senior Venezuelan official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The large-scale strikes were carried out in the early hours as US forces conducted an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are now being held in custody in New York.
The newspaper said it verified video footage showing heavy smoke and repeated explosions near La Carlota Airport in Caracas.
Meanwhile, Russia on Saturday condemned the US attack on Venezuela urged it to release its leader Nicolas Maduro, who was grabbed during a military operation in and around Caracas.
"We strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife," the Russian foreign ministry said.
In a series of statements, the ministry called for dialogue between Washington and Venezuela's leftist government and expressed "solidarity" with Venezuela's people. It stopped short, however, of offering immediate military or financial assistance to its ally.
China: China called on the United States on Sunday to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, expressing serious concern over their seizure by US forces.
A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said Beijing was responding to reports that US forces captured Maduro and his wife on Saturday and took them out of Venezuela, drawing objections from several countries.
China said the move constituted a clear violation of international law, fundamental norms governing international relations, and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
North Korea: North Korea denounced on Sunday the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a "serious encroachment of sovereignty", state media said.
Pyongyang's foreign ministry "strongly denounces the US hegemony-seeking act committed in Venezuela", said a ministry spokesperson in a statement carried by the official KCNA.
Australia, NZ: Australia and New Zealand said Sunday they supported international law and a democratic future in Venezuela after US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro.
In separate statements, the two countries-both members of the "Five Eyes" intelligence sharing alliance with the United States, Britain and Canada-said they were watching developments.
New Zealand said it was worried about the situation.
"New Zealand is concerned by and actively monitoring developments in Venezuela and expects all parties to act in accordance with international law," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
Democratic US lawmakers: Democratic members of the US Congress said on Saturday that senior officials of President Donald Trump's administration had misled them during recent briefings about plans for Venezuela by insisting they were not planning regime change in Caracas.
The US attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro in an overnight operation, in Washington's most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Brazil: Brazil's government on Saturday condemned the US military attack on Venezuela and the capture of its leader as the crossing of "an unacceptable line," while Brazilian officials were closely watching any unusual movement of refugees at the border with its neighbour.
