Venezuela's Supreme Court orders a female vice-president to lead the country

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro. He was detained early on Saturday morning with his wife during an operation by US forces.

The court decision states that Rodríguez will assume 'the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the nation'.

The court will further hear the case in order to "determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of the government and the defence of sovereignty in the face of the enforced absence of the President of the Republic".

The US President accuses the detained Maduro of running an extensive drug trafficking network, which the Venezuelan leader denies. Before his capture, Maduro claimed that the US wanted to force a change of government in Venezuela and gain access to its oil reserves, which are among the largest in the world.

The White House chief said on Saturday that the United States would continue to oversee its operations in Venezuela "until we can effect a safe, orderly and orderly transition," signaling an open-ended U.S. role.

He said the United States would administer Venezuela through a designated group and that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would work out the details.

(reuters, max)