With Maduro out, who is running Venezuela?

The US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro – praised by President Donald Trump as “stunning and powerful” – leaves behind uncertainty and questions over who is running the oil-rich country.

As part of the operation early on Saturday that knocked out electricity in parts of Caracas and included attacks on military installations, US special forces seized Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them to the US.

Mr Trump on Saturday said the US would “run the country” until it can ensure a “safe, proper and judicious transition”. He also said the country's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez had been sworn in as president.

Under Venezuela's constitution, Ms Rodriguez becomes acting president in Mr Maduro's absence and the country's highest court ordered her to assume the role late Saturday night.

But ​shortly after Mr Trump's remarks, she appeared on state television accompanied by her brother, the head of the national assembly Jorge Rodriguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and said that Mr Maduro remained Venezuela's only president. The joint appearance indicated the group that shared power with the captured Venezuelan leader is staying united – for now.

“We call on the peoples of the great homeland to remain united, because what was done to Venezuela can be done to anyone. That brutal use of force to bend the will of the people can be carried out against any country,” she said as she condemned the US operation.

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