UPDATE - Venezuela's Maduro cuts ties with US amid protests

ADDS MADURO QUOTES

ANKARA (AA) - President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela announced his country cut all relations with the U.S. after Washington recognized opposition-controlled National Assembly's President Juan Guaido as interim president.

Maduro made the announcement while speaking to his supporters who gathered in the Presidential Palace in the capital of Caracas to show support against demonstrations.

"I have decided to break diplomatic and political relations with the imperialist government of the United States," Maduro said and gave 72 hours for diplomats to leave the country.

He said the country is in a historic battle so = no one should lower their guard.

"I ask the military maximum loyalty, maximum unity, maximum discipline, that this fight we will win too. Always loyal, traitors never," he added.

Maduro also asked for "calm and sanity" but "maximum and permanent mobilization", before what he described as an attempted coup after Guaido declared hiself as interim president.

U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido as the interim president of the country, marking the most significant escalation in the ongoing feud between Washington and Maduro.