Venezuela's Guaido courts Russia; powers divided on Maduro

Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido talks to media next to his wife Fabiana Rosales, while carrying their daughter outside their home after a meeting with supporters to present a government plan of the opposition in Caracas, Venezuela January 31, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

CARACAS (Reuters) - Global jostling intensified on Thursday between countries that want Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in power and those trying to force him to resign, as opposition leader Juan Guaido made overtures to his rival's allies Russia and China.

Guaido told Reuters he had sent communications to both powers, which are Venezuela's top foreign creditors and support Maduro in the U.N. Security Council despite worries about the cash-strapped country's ability to pay.