Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela following the Supreme Court.
The top court of the country ordered Vice President Rodriguez to take charge as the interim head of the country following President Nicolás Maduro's abduction in the US military operation last week.
Rodriguez, who vowed to cooperate with the United States, took an oath during the ceremony in the National Assembly and said that she was “in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States.”
On the other hand, Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores made their first appearance at the court in New York on Monday, January 5.
Maduro, during the hearing, declared himself “the president of my country” and protested against his capture while pleading not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.
Maduro said in Spanish, “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.”
His wife, Flores, has also pleaded not guilty in the court.
Maduro and Flores were seized from their home in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday, January 3, in a shocking midnight military operation that killed around 80 people, including 32 Cubans, reported BBC.
They are accused of working with drug cartels to send thousands of tonnes of cocaine to the US.
The 25-page indictment says Maduro and his wife ordered kidnappings, beatings, and even murders of people who did not pay their drug debts or got in the way of their operation. If found guilty, they could face life in prison.
