German FM calls for peaceful solution to Venezuela deadlock

Reuters - Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Thursday (May 2) called for a peaceful solution for the political deadlock in Venezuela after opposition leader Juan Guaido announced an uprising against President Nicolas Maduro. Maas was in Mexico City with his Mexican counterpart Marcelo Ebrard, where he admitted the EU nation was concerned about events unfolding in Venezuela. Earlier this week, tens of thousands of Venezuelans heeded opposition leader Juan Guaido's call to take to the streets in a bid to force President Nicolas Maduro from power, but there was little concrete sign of change in a crisis that increasingly looks like a political stalemate. The European Union has recognised Venezuela's self-declared interim president Guaido as de facto head of state, heightening international pressure on the OPEC member's socialist President Nicolas Maduro. In contrast, Mexico, where leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office last year, has dropped the previous government's opposition to Maduro and urged dialogue. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard reiterated the country's call for talks.