Obama, grand chief of devils: Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has slammed US President Barack Obama and called him the ‘grand chief of devils.’

Maduro made the comment during a speech on Saturday as a response to Obama’s interview with a Spanish-language television network a day earlier.

While speaking to Univision, Obama did not say whether Washington recognized Maduro as the new president of Venezuela.

“Coming out of Central America, Obama let loose with a bunch of impertinent remarks, insolent stuff… He is giving an order, and his blessing, for the fascist right wing to attack Venezuela’s democracy,” the Venezuelan president stated.

“We are here defending our institutions, peace, democracy, the people of Venezuela… and we can sit down with anyone, even the grand chief of devils: Obama,” Maduro said.

The Venezuelan president also charged Washington with helping the Venezuelan opposition financially.

“It is Obama himself – as the puppet of the imperial power – who is behind the financing in dollars of this right wing that is seeking to destroy Venezuela’s democracy.”

In addition, the Venezuelan president accused the United States for a brawl which took place in the chamber of the country’s parliament on April 30, after the assembly passed a measure denying opposition members the right to speak in the chamber until they recognize Maduro as president.

Maduro said the physical altercation was “planned” ahead of Obama’s trip to Mexico and Central America.

On April 14, Maduro was elected president after defeating opposition leader Henrique Capriles by receiving 50.7 percent of the vote against 49.1 percent, with a difference of 235,000 ballots. Capriles claims irregularities had taken place.

However, on April 28, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council said Capriles had failed to present any compelling proof that there were irregularities during the presidential election.