UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he is “deeply alarmed” by recent US actions against Venezuela, warning that they may violate international law.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been extracted by helicopter and transferred to a ship, from where they would be taken to New York to face federal charges.

“They're on a ship but they'll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out,” Trump told Fox News in a telephone interview.

Responding to the developments, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres is “deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected” and warned that the situation could “constitute a dangerous precedent.”

The UN chief urged all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, emphasizing full respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Sun News/ra