Pompeo claims Russians persuaded Maduro not to leave Venezuela

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday (local time) claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was preparing to leave the country for Cuba amid calls for his ouster, but the Russians talked him out of it."He had an airplane on the tarmac, he was ready to leave this morning as we understand it and the Russians indicated he should stay," Pompeo told CNN, adding that Maduro was headed for Havana.Ever since the civil unrest and political chaos began in Venezuela, Russia has stood by the embattled regime headed by Maduro, and often criticised the US for interfering in the country."We have told the Russians and the Cubans that it [the support to Mudaro] is unacceptable. The nations of the regions and the Organisation of American States are all demanding that we get the democracy restored in Venezuela; that we get the dignity back in this once great nation," Pompeo said.Pompeo's statement comes against the backdrop of clashes between anti-government protesters led by self-proclaimed