BRITAIN’S peace movement called an emergency picket tomorrow in solidarity with Venezuela following the shocking abduction of President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been flown out of Caracas and indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges following the “policing operation.”

He posted an image which appeared to show the leader blindfolded aboard the US warship Iwo Jima and headed to New York.

The attack saw explosions ring out in residential areas and low-flying aircraft sweep through the Venezuelan capital early on Saturday.

Mr Trump declared that the US will “run” the country until a new government is set up.

The Bolivarian government is still currently in place, with Vice-President Delcy Rodriquez installed as interim leader.

Despite her being hyped up as a potential Venezuelan leader by the United States and EU to discredit Mr Maduro, Mr Trump said opposition figure Maria Machado — recently and controversially awarded a Nobel Peace Prize despite calling for foreign attacks on her own country — lacks the “support and respect” in Venezuela to take over, indicating he intended to dictate terms to the sitting government minus its head of state.

Mr Trump also revealed his plans to exploit the leadership vacuum to “fix” the nation’s oil infrastructure and sell “large amounts” of the fuel to other nations.

The attack, which has been described as the most brazen US regime change operation since the 2003 Iraq invasion, followed weeks during which the US lethally targeted boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking, killing at least 115. It provided no evidence to back up its accusations.

The Venezuela Solidarity Campaign (VSC) said protesters will gather outside Downing Street at 6pm tomorrow evening to “stand against war and regime change and demand that the British government condemn this illegal assault.”

The group said: “This attack is wholly illegal and unjustified.

“It is a US regime-change operation against a sovereign nation and a clear violation of international law.

“The motivation is both control of Venezuela’s oil — the largest proven reserves in the world — and to reassert US domination over Latin America by removing governments that dare to defend the interests of their own population.

“Alongside Stop the War (STW), Campaign against Nuclear Disarmament and other groups, we are calling a rally and protest to demand an immediate end to this illegal US military action and the safe return of President Nicolas Maduro.”

STW convener Lindsey German said that the “forced removal and kidnapping” of Mr Maduro is a war crime.

She said: “The British government should condemn the forced removal and attack for the aggression that it is and call for an immediate cessation of military action by the US, and the return of Maduro to his country.

“This is not of course the only recent military action by the Trump regime which has bombed Syria in recent weeks and has given full support to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

“Despite his election promises of ending ‘forever wars,’ Trump is embroiled in stoking imperialist conflicts around the world.

“It is time for the British government to break from US foreign policy and call for peace, not war.”

Ms German said that “only the peoples of Latin America can decide their own fate and choose their own government and should be able to do so without interference.”

“There can be no support for US imperialism in Latin America or for the crimes of Trump,” she said.

An emergency statement against war on Venezuela has been launched, signed by over 40 MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, Richard Burgon, Diane Abbott, Zarah Sultana and Sian Berry, as well as writers, artists and campaigners.

Leaders of unions PCS, BFAWU, RMT, UCU, NEU, FBU, POA, TSSA and GFTU have also signed the statement, while new Unison general secretary Andrea Egan also called on the British government to condemn the illegal US action.

PCS said it believes “all states must abide by international law and uphold human rights at home and internationally.”

The union said it welcomes that Britain was not involved “in any way” in the US actions, but added: “We will press to ensure that remains the case, as we do not want UK civil servants being put in a position where they are being instructed to potentially breach international law.

“We send our solidarity to the Venezuelan people — and call on the United Nations to pressure the USA to uphold the values of democracy, human rights and international law.”

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede called the attack an “act of aggression” that “constitutes a blatant breach of international law.”

“We should all uphold the fundamental right of the Venezuelan people, and the Venezuelan people alone, to determine their elected leaders and the future of their country,” he said.