Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has extended a state of emergency for 60 days and accused the United States of working to oust him from power. Maduro said his right-wing opponents in Venezuela have been emboldened by the ouster of President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil. Like Brazil, Venezuela has been embroiled in an economic crisis. Triggered by low oil prices, the crisis has seen water shortages, blackouts and the instatement of a two-day work week for government employees. Maduro issued his decree on Friday.

President Nicolás Maduro: “I decree today, Friday, the 13th of May, a state of economic emergency in order to defend the country. Here is the decree, signed and approved for the protection of our country. Once this is published in the next few minutes, this new decree will go into effect, and I maintain the constitutional power to defend the country against the threats of an economic war.”