'Brutal' and 'flagrant' are the terms used by the Ambassador of Venezuela to Namibia, Dr. Magaly Henríquez, to describe what she says was a military attack by the United States on Venezuelan territory and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Responding to questions from NBC News, Ambassador Henríquez said the action violated international law, national sovereignty, and the principles of the United Nations Charter.  

She said the operation amounted to the kidnapping of Venezuela’s constitutional president and was intended to undermine the will of the Venezuelan people.

Henríquez said Venezuela rejects foreign intervention and will not accept control or direction from another state. 

She called on African countries and the wider international community to show solidarity with Venezuela and to monitor the situation.

The United States and Venezuela have had strained relations for more than a decade, marked by sanctions, diplomatic breakdowns and disputes over political legitimacy.