Maduro severs diplomatic ties with Columbia

Caracas [Venezuela], Feb 24 (ANI): Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday (local time) severed diplomatic relations with Colombia in the wake of the violence along the two countries' border.
He also pledged to stop the supplies from coming into the country and called it a coup attempt by the opposition with the help of the United States and Columbia. 
"My patience has run out. I can't continue to tolerate the aggressions against Venezuela that are being carried out by the Colombian government. We are severing diplomatic relations with Colombia," CNN quoted Maduro as saying. 
Maduro made these remark while addressing a rally in Caracas. 
Recently, violence broke out between locals and Venezuela's security forces along the Columbian borders, which is still backing Maduro.  At least five people were killed in clashes with the security forces on Saturday. 
At least 285 people were hurt after the Venezuelan National Guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protestors, reported CNN.
Various trucks carrying supplies were blocked on the borders. Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while condemning Maduro for stopping aid tweeted "What kind of a sick tyrant stops food from getting to hungry people? The images of burning trucks filled with aid are sickening."
Protestors have also claimed that the trucks were also burnt down by security forces. Meanwhile, the US has announced that it was preparing to bring in aid into Caracas through a different route. 
The South American nation is crippled with a political and economic crisis since January. 
The political crisis began in Venezuela on January 24 when Guaido marched against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and announced himself as interim president.
 The economic crisis in the nation, coupled with a food shortage, has strengthened an anti-Maduro sentiment across the South American nation, with the opposition accusing Maduro of "usurping power."
A defiant Maduro, who is backed by the country's powerful military, claimed that the opposition protests are an attempt by the US to stage a coup and overthrow him. (ANI)