President told to 'step aside'

Clinging to power makes the suffering of our people worse.’

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Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who has claimed he defeated Nicolas Maduro in last month's election, said on Monday he was ready to negotiate a transition and asked the incumbent to "step aside".

"Mr Nicolas Maduro, respect what all Venezuelans have decided... You and your government should step aside... I am ready for dialogue," said Gonzalez Urrutia, a retired diplomat.

"Every day that you hinder the democratic transition, Venezuelans suffer from a country in crisis. Clinging to power only makes the suffering of our people worse. Our time has come."