'Not my president': Venezuelans in UAE glad to see end of Maduro era but worry for their country's future

Venezuelans living in the UAE say they are happy to see the end of President Nicolas Maduro's reign but fear for their country's future.

Their comments came after US special forces seized Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a dramatic predawn raid on his compound in Caracas, before flying them to the US on Saturday

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday 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 acting president.

“I was very happy yesterday. Maduro made everything worse since he took power,” said Venezuelan Ivan Torellas, 40, speaking to The National on Sunday. “I paid attention carefully to what Trump said. We have to see the transition of power.”

Mr Torellas moved to Dubai seven years ago. Before that, he ran a business in Venezuela installing communications, but then the government began controlling the currency exchange. When he was unable to afford the high dollar rates, Mr Torellas was unable to buy equipment so he decided to leave.

“When I left, the country didn't look that bad. People still had money, and the salaries were not too low – you could still survive,” he said. “I have a lot of friends that started leaving because they went to protest on the streets and people got killed or put in jail.”

We won’t be another Puerto Rico and we are not voting to become another star of the American flag Maria ,

Venezuelan living in Dubai

Mr Maduro came to power in Venezuela following the death of Hugo Chavez in 2013. Mr Chavez swept to victory in the elections of 1998 after being jailed for fomenting a coup in 1992.

His populist policies won him wide support amid an oil boom that filled Venezuela's coffers, but he was accused of political repression and involvement in – or at least turning a blind eye to – the regional drug trade.

The US has long accused the Venezuelan government of being involved with regional criminal activity, including drug trafficki