US ambassador calls for Maduro ouster

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, joined Venezuelan protesters outside the world body headquarters and called for the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro.
Haley’s embrace of demonstrators was highly unusual for a diplomat from a major power at the staid United Nations and came after President Donald Trump hinted at military options against Maduro’s leftist government.
“We are going to fight for Venezuela and we are going to continue doing it until Maduro is gone!” Haley shouted from a megaphone.
“We need your voices to be loud and I will tell you, the US voice is going to be loud,” she said.
Haley said she visited the border with Colombia, which has accepted more than 1mn Venezuelans fleeing an economic freefall including hyperinflation.
“What we saw is what no one should live...while Maduro is eating in nice restaurants.”
Demonstrators held up banners including “SOS Venezuela” and chanted “What do we want? Freedom!” in a sealed-off plaza outside the United Nations that is the favourite location for protesters during the annual week of global diplomacy.
“We welcome the presence of Nikki Haley. We welcome the words of President Trump and every official who denounced Nicolas Maduro,” said Erick Rozo, 30, one of the protest leaders.
“For the first time in 20 years the world is opening its eyes and recognising the crisis that Venezuelans are suffering.”
Guimar Silva, 32, voiced hope that the United Nations would take action.
“We can’t endure many more years in poverty and hunger. People are dying, there is no medicine or food, and children and seniors are the worst affected,” she said.
Maduro flew to New York at the last minute after Trump’s threats, accusing the US of “permanent aggression” but also saying he was willing to meet Trump.
Maduro said the UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet was welcome to visit any time after she urged Caracas to allow an international investigation of the humanitarian situation in the country.
“Of course, whenever she wants,” Maduro told reporters when asked at the United Nations if he would accept a mission to report on the human rights situation in Venezuela.
“President Bachelet, the high commissioner, should co-ordinate with the foreign ministry when she wants to go to Venezuela. She’s always welcome,” he added.
Bachelet, a former president of Chile, took over at the head of the UN Human Rights Council on September 1.
On Thursday, the council said it had approved a resolution expressing serious concern about alleged human rights violations in Venezuela, and urged the country to let Bachelet compile a report on the conditions on the ground.
In a video published by the United Nations, Bachelet said for the Human Rights Council to be able to produce an impartial report on the situation, it was vital to be allowed in. It would also provide an opportunity for the council to get the “official version” from Venezuela’s government, she added.
Venezuela, which is struggling to cope with an economic and political crisis, has come under the spotlight for its human rights record at the UN General Assembly this week.
Five Latin American countries and Canada on Wednesday said they had asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Maduro’s government over allegations of crimes against humanity in using force to repress political opponents.