Washington [USA], May 16 (ANI): The United States on Wednesday suspended all flights between US and Venezuela in the wake of a severe political crisis in the Latin American nation, as per the US Department of Transportation.

"The public interest requires an immediate suspension of foreign air transportation between the United States and Venezuelan airports. Therefore...I am suspending the authority of all US air carriers and foreign air carriers to provide foreign air transportation to or from Venezuelan airports," Sputnik quoted Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Transportation as saying.

Both passenger and cargo flights will be suspended in the wake of the latest notification.

Earlier this year, Venezuela's National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared himself as the President of the nation, even though Venezuela already had an elected President, Nicolas Maduro. Guaido was immediately supported by the United States, who recognise him as the official interim President of the nation.

Over 50 countries also recognise Guaido as the interim President. A few countries like France and Japan, amongst others, called for fresh elections to be held the nation, as they view the polls which propelled Maduro to power as rigged.

However, Maduro has refused to step down from his post, citing the support of the Venezuelan military time and again. He has slammed foreign, especially US, interference in Venezuela's internal matters, along with holding US responsible for plotting coup attempts against him.

He also held Washington responsible for the major blackouts which struck most provinces in the nation -- a claim which has been denied by the US. (ANI)