Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country's rightful interim ruler, takes part in a session of Venezuela’s National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela July 16, 2019. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly on Tuesday appointed an ad-hoc board for the country’s central bank with the aim of “protecting its international reserves” from President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

The assembly head, Juan Guaido, named five people to the ad-hoc board. Most western nations recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president, though Maduro retains control of the state, including the central bank.

Guaido did not explain how the ad-hoc board would function, but the opposition has previously sought to prevent Maduro’s government from accessing central bank gold kept at the Bank of England.