Britain, Spain and Sweden announced on Monday they are recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.
An eight-day deadline for President Nicolas Maduro to declare fresh elections ran out on Sunday. Several EU countries have said they will follow the United States and numerous other countries in recognizing opposition leader Guaido as president.
"Nicolas Maduro has not called Presidential elections within 8 day limit we have set. So UK alongside European allies now recognises Juan Guaido as interim constitutional president until credible elections can be held. Let's hope this takes us closer to ending humanitarian crisis," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted.
"I recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela interim president, with a clear timeframe: the calling of free, democratic elections, with guarantees and no exclusions. I won't take any step back. For freedom, democracy and harmony in Venezuela," wrote Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Twitter.
"In this situation, we support and consider Guaido as a legitimate interim president," Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told Swedish Radio.
Germany, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria and Belgium have also said they would back the opposition challenger if no elections were called.
