Russia condemns US threats against Venezuela govt

Russian foreign minister condemned "the American threats against the legitimate government" in Venezuela during a phone talk with his U.S. counterpart on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo discussed the situation in Venezuela on the phone, said a statement by the Russian foreign ministry.

Lavrov said Moscow was ready to hold bilateral talks on Venezuela with the U.S., but ''it is necessary to strictly follow the principles of the UN Charter since only Venezuelans have the right to determine their future," the statement said.

Lavrov and Pompeo also discussed the situation in Syria, Afghanistan and other regions, it added.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10, when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Tensions escalated when Juan Guaido, who heads Venezuela's National Assembly, declared himself acting president Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.

Turkey, Russia, Iran, Cuba, China, and Bolivia put their weight behind Maduro, who has vowed to cut all diplomatic and political ties with the U.S.