Feb 20 (NHK) - Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono says the country clearly supports Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president.
Kono was speaking at a news conference on Tuesday.
He said many people in the international community have raised concerns about the legitimacy of Venezuela's presidential election last year. He also said Japan's government has repeatedly asked the Venezuelan government to fulfill its accountability on the election, but that the responsibility has not been carried out. He added that a new presidential election has not been held as requested.
Guaido, the national assembly head, is supported by the United States and other major Western countries, while President Nicolas Maduro is backed by China and Russia.
