Maduro announces closure of Venezuela embassy in United States

Maduro made the call during a special session at the Supreme Court in which he accused the US of pushing opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela's acting president on Wednesday, into attempting a coup d'etat.

Guaido rejected Maduro's decision and asked all foreign embassies to keep their doors open with the subsequent response from Washington that, since it no longer recognizes the Chavista leader as head of state, it will not comply with his directives.

"I have decided to return all personnel, diplomatic and consular, of our country abroad and close the embassy and all the consulates in the United States," the president said, Efe reported.

Maduro reiterated that on Wednesday he made the decision to break diplomatic and political relations "with the imperialist government of Donald Trump, and to expel all his diplomatic personnel and (other) personnel" from Venezuela within 72 hours.

The country, meanwhile, was rocked by a third consecutive day of anti-government protests early Thursday, although thousands also took to the streets to show their support for the government amid a diplomatic upheaval that has seen many countries expressing their official recognition and support for both sides in the political tussle.