Venezuela allows US diplomats to stay, defusing standoff Venezuela defused a potential showdown with the United States, suspending a demand that U.S. diplomats leave the country as Washington called on the world to "pick a side" in the nation's fast-moving crisis

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela defused a potential showdown with the United States, suspending a demand that U.S. diplomats leave the country as Washington called on the world to "pick a side" in the nation's fast-moving crisis.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro broke relations with the United States Wednesday after the Trump administration and many other nations recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, a move that Maduro called a coup attempt.

Maduro gave U.S. diplomats three days to leave the country, but the Trump administration said it wouldn't obey, arguing that Maduro is no longer Venezuela's legitimate president. That set the stage for a showdown at the U.S. Embassy compound Saturday night, when the deadline was to expire.

But as the sun set, the Foreign Ministry said Venezuela was suspending the expulsion.