Protesters burn US flags outside American consulate in Brazil over Venezuela raid Photo/Video

Protesters gathered outside the US consulate in São Paulo, Brazil, trampling and burning American flags while demanding the release of Venezuela’s ousted president and his wife. 

Demonstrators said the protest was sparked by a US operation carried out in Venezuela on January 3, during which former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and later flown to New York, RT reports from the scene. 

Following Maduro’s detention, Venezuela’s Supreme Court announced the appointment of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. In public statements, Rodríguez condemned the US action as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, while also signalling a willingness to engage in dialogue and cooperation with Washington.

The protests come amid heightened regional tensions involving the United States. US President Donald Trump has recently reiterated calls for a US takeover of Greenland and has issued threats of US action against Colombia and Cuba, further fuelling anti-US sentiment among some groups in Latin America.

By Sabina Mammadli