Pompeo calls on Venezuela's Maduro to step down, urges support from military

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sits during a meeting with Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al-Said (not pictured) at the Beit Al Baraka Royal Palace in Muscat, Oman January 14, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step aside and urged the country's military to support efforts to restore democracy.

In a statement, Pompeo said Washington would support opposition leader Juan Guaido as he establishes a transitional government and prepares the country for elections.

"The Venezuelan people have suffered long enough under Nicolas Maduro's disastrous dictatorship," Pompeo said. "We call on Maduro to step aside in favour of a legitimate leader reflecting the will of the Venezuelan people."

(Reporting by Timothy Ahmann; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)