Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Sunday rejected an ultimatum from the UK and four other European countries giving him eight days to call new elections, describing the move as "complete insolence".

On Saturday, the UK, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands said that if Mr Maduro did not call a vote within that time-frame, they would join others in formally recognising the head of Venezuela's parliament as the legitimate president.

In his first interview since the intense leadership struggle began last week, Mr Maduro branded the European countries' actions a "mistake".

"Venezuela is not tied to Europe. This is complete insolence," he told CNN's Turkish channel.

Regional powers such as the US, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Argentina announced last week that they officially would recognise Juan Guaido as legitimate president after the 35-year-old opposition leader swore himself in front of a Caracas rally.

But others, such as Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba and Turkey, have come out in support of Mr Maduro, accusing Washington of leading an imperialist intervention in the South American nation.