Spain, Britain, Austria, Sweden and Denmark recognize leader Juan Guaido as interim president

Spain, Britain, Austria, Sweden and Denmark recognized Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela on Monday.

"I recognize the president of Venezuela's assembly, Mr Juan Guaido, as president in charge of Venezuela," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised statement, urging a free and fair election as soon as possible.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt followed suit.

"Nicolas Maduro has not called presidential elections within 8-day limit we have set," Hunt said on Twitter.

Denmark’s foreign minister Anders Samuelsen said that his country recognizes Venezuela's national assembly president Juan Guaido as the country's interim president.

“Denmark recognizes the President of the National Assembly ... until new free and democratic elections take place," Anders Samuelsen tweeted.

Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter on Sunday that Austria will acknowledge Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president if Nicolas Maduro does not respond to the European Union’s call for a free and fair presidential election.

“I just had a very good phone call with President @jguaido,” Kurz tweeted. “He has our full support to restore democracy in Venezuela.” Venezuelans had suffered too long from mismanagement and a disregard for the rule of law under Maduro, he said.