the country's oil sales "indefinitely" after toppling Nicolas Maduro. Trump's assertion of US dominance over the oil-rich South American country comes despite its interim leader Delcy Rodriguez saying there is no foreign power governing Caracas. "There is a stain on our relations such as had never occurred in our history," Rodriguez said about the US attack to depose her predecessor.

US special forces snatched president Maduro and his wife on Saturday in a lightning raid and whisked them to New York to face trial on drug charges, underscoring what Trump has called the "Donroe Doctine" of US dominance over its backyard. "We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now" following the capture operation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing.

"We're continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities, and their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America." Trump has said the United States will "run" Venezuela, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves. But Washington has no boots on the ground, and appears to be relying on a naval blockade and the threat of further force to ensure the cooperation of the interim president. Meanwhile Caracas announced Wednesday that at least 100 people were killed in the US attack and a similar number were injured. Among those hurt were Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said. The couple were seen walking on their own power during a New York court arraignment earlier this week. According to Havana, the death toll includes 32 members of the Cuban military. Maduro, like his firebrand predecessor Hugo Chavez, employed specialized Cuban soldiers as bodyguards. (Bssnews)