The United States has warned Nicolas Maduro that his “days are numbered”, ahead of an international meeting in Bogota on Monday with his rival, Juan Guaido, to decide the next steps in the battle for Venezuela.

Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, who will travel to Bogota alongside Vice-President Mike Pence, condemned the weekend’s violence and said he was confident Mr Maduro would soon be gone.

"Predictions are difficult. Picking exact days is difficult," he said, speaking on a US political chat show the day after a deadly standoff over aid shipments erupted at the borders of the South American nation.

"I’m confident that the Venezuelan people will ensure that Maduro’s days are numbered."

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