Maduro Voices Condolences to Families of Servicemen Killed in Helicopter Crash

CARACAS, Venezuela-A Venezuelan military helicopter crashed close to Caracas on Saturday morning, killing all seven people on board, Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and the Defense Ministry confirmed.

The armed forces in a statement said the chopper was heading to San Carlos in Cojedes state.

Maduro called on the military "to be ready to defend the homeland with weapons in hands if one day the US empire dares to touch this land, this sacred soil".

"No, not at all", Pompeo said.

But on Fox News Sunday, Pompeo said Trump has been "very clear" about wanting the Russians to stop meddling in Venezuela.

Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rallies with the South American country's military.

Karl asked Pompeo if Maduro would still be in power if he did not have the support of the Cuban and Russian governments. "I don't think anything the president said is inconsistent with that". Earlier this week, Guaidó unsuccessfully called on the country's military to revolt against Maduro, however, anti-Maduro protests have continued. Additionally, Iran has been involved in several joint ventures with Venezuela worth several billions of dollars including in the energy, agriculture, housing and infrastructure sectors.

Russian Federation owns a significant portion of Venezuela's oil fields through a state-backed oil firm, Rosneft, has sold billions in military equipment to the South American nation and loaned Maduro's regime billions more - much of it reportedly still outstanding. "We are confronting a wall that is an absolute dictatorship.We have recognised our mistakes - what we didn't do, and (what) we did too much of", Guaido told The Washington Post in an exclusive interview.

"Sitting down with Maduro is not an option".

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, a regional ally of Venezuela's, said on Twitter he had spoken to Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and "stressed the need for dialogue with President Maduro and respect for Venezuela's sovereignty and worldwide rights without threats or outside intervention".

"And I feel the same way".

The Lima Group said it wants Maduro's ally Cuba to join efforts end the political crisis in Venezuela, and called for an urgent meeting with the EU-backed International Contact Group, which has placed more emphasis on dialog to find a solution. "Right now people are starving".

Trump's tone struck a contrast with that of his top advisors, including National Security Advisor John Bolton, who tweeted bluntly that "Maduro must go".