Venezuela High Court Orders VP to Temporarily Assume Presidency

CARACAS: Venezuela's Supreme Court late Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to become the country's interim leader, after the United States seized President Nicolas Maduro and whisked him out of the country.

The high court ruled that Rodriguez "assume and exercise, in an acting capacity, all the attributes, duties and powers inherent to the office of President...to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation."

The judges stopped short of declaring Maduro permanently absent from office, a ruling that requires holding elections within 30 days.