Erdoğan says impossible for Turkey to approve developments in Venezuela

It is impossible for Turkey to approve of the developments in Venezuela, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday, adding that he believed the people of Venezuela would continue to support President Nicolas Maduro.

Those who fight for democracy should side with those who are elected and champion democracy, Turkey's president said on Thursday, referring to the U.S. recognizing a Venezuelan opposition leader as interim president, rather than President Nicolas Maduro.

"If Maduro takes a tough stance... I believe the Venezuelan people will back their elected president," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint news conference alongside visiting Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim leader on Wednesday, winning the support of Washington and parts of Latin America. That prompted socialist Maduro, who has led the oil-rich nation since 2013, to sever diplomatic ties with the United States.

Erdoğan also said he found U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on Venezuela shocking and added that democracies needed to respect election results.

"If you do not respect election results, then this is not democracy, this is a totalitarian mindset," Erdoğan added.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president, escalating the ongoing feud between the U.S. and Maduro.

Maduro quickly shot back, cutting off diplomatic relations with Washington and giving U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.