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Greece's left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is backing calls by Bolivia for a negotiated settlement to the severe political and financial crisis in Venezuela.

Many European Union member countries are among 50 nations, including the United States, which are backing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido against embattled President Nicolas Maduro. Those EU countries want a presidential election to resolve Venezuela's problems.

But Tsipras' Syriza party has friendly ties with left-wing parties in South America and has expressed support for Maduro.

Bolivian President Evo Morales wants Tsipras to press the EU to push for talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition as a way out of the crisis.

Morales met with Tsipras in Athens on Friday during a rare trip to Europe.