Colombia requests emergency UN, OAS sessions over US raid in Venezuela

Colombia has called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Monday and a special meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) as regional stability reels from the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following a US military operation.

At a press conference in the border city of Cucuta late Saturday, Angie Rodriguez, director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency of Colombia, said Colombia has also proposed convening a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in light of the escalating situation in Venezuela. Colombia currently holds the rotating presidency of CELAC.

Rodriguez said that Colombia has activated a yellow alert for its healthcare system along the Venezuelan border, and ordered bolstered humanitarian measures and deployed 30,000 troops. It also declared its highest state of alert for the armed forces to address a potential escalation of the situation, she said.

In a massive military operation launched in the early hours of Saturday, US forces attacked the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

US President Donald Trump said that the United States would "run" Venezuela until "a safe, proper and judicious transition" is achieved.

The unilateral US move has drawn fierce condemnation from several international organizations and nations, including Colombia.

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