Maduro warns of civil war in TV interview on eve of EU deadline

With hours to go until a deadline passesfor Nicolas Maduro to call fresh elections or lose yet more supporton the world stage, the Venezuelan leader alluded to a possible civilwar in comments to media.No one can say with certainty what the risks are of such a scenariounfolding, he told the La Sexta broadcaster in an interview set to bebroadcast on Sunday evening.Excerpts of the interview were released in Spanish print mediaearlier in the day."Everything depends on the degree of insanity and aggressiveness ofthe northern imperialists [United States] and its Western allies," hesaid.An eight-day deadline for Maduro to declare fresh elections is set torun out on Sunday, after which seven EU countries have said they willrecognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as president.   Guaido, the leader of the National Assembly, declared himself interimhead of state on January 23, a move which was immediately recognizedby the US and numerous other countries.Maduro won a second term in a May election widely seen asundemocratic and was inaugurated in January. He has presided over aneconomic disaster, with millions of Venezuelans fleeing abroad toescape hyperinflation and food and medicine shortages.At least 35 people have died in protests since January and around 850arrests have been made, according to media reports.Though a high-ranking air force general on Saturday disavowed Maduro,the president enjoys the support of the military and the country'ssecurity services. He is also backed by Russia, China, Turkey, Cuba,Bolivia and Nicaragua.Maduro has already dismissed the demand of Germany, France, Britain,Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium as an "impertinence,"telling supporters at a rally on Saturday "I am the true president ofVenezuela." In the interview with La Sexta, which the broadcaster said wasconducted on Friday, Maduro said, "We simply live in our country andask that nobody intervene in internal affairs. And we are preparingourselves to defend our country."He added that people in factories, universities and other civicspheres are preparing for combat.Interviewer Jordi Evole, one of Spain's most respected televisionjournalists, replied, "I'm scared of what you're saying, Mr Maduro.""Really? It doesn't scare me," was the embattled president'sresponse.In response to the European deadline for elections, Maduro said, "Wedo not accept an ultimatum from anyone."