WASHINGTON failed to win support for United Nations intervention in Venezuela’s crisis on Wednesday as thousands of troops were deployed against anti-government rioters.

US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called the security council meeting to discuss the political confrontation in the South American country.

Comparing Venezuela to other countries targeted for regime change by Washington, she said: “We’ve been down this road with Syria, North Korea, South Sudan, Burundi, with Burma.”