Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has played down the prospects for success at a new round of mediation in Norway with the government, saying protests would continue until President Nicolas Maduro resigned.
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Norway said on Saturday representatives of Venezuela's government and opposition would return to Oslo next week following an initial round of talks about how to address a long-running political crisis.
Norway has a tradition of conflict mediation, including assistance with Colombia's 2016 peace deal between the government and leftist FARC rebels.
"This is not negotiation. This is not dialogue," Guaido told reporters after a rally in the western Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto, adding that his team was simply responding to an offer from the Norwegian government to mediate.
Guaido reiterated any solution to Venezuela's crisis required Maduro to stand down, allowing a transitional government to set new presidential elections.
"If we have an end to the usurpation (by Maduro), a transition government and free elections, it will have worked. If not ... we will remain in the streets," Guaido, the head of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, said.
Venezuela has been plunged into political turmoil since Guaido invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, dismissing Maduro's 2018 re-election as fraudulent.
More than 50 countries, including the US and many members of the European Union, recognise Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
Maduro, who maintains control over state institutions, calls Guaido a puppet of Washington and blames US sanctions for the country's humanitarian crisis.
Australian Associated Press