Venezuelan president defends response to protesters, claims Obama would respond similarly

CARACAS, Venezuela, March 7 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro defended his actions during his country's political crisis as reasonable, and asserted that U.S. President Barack Obama would react similarly.

Maduro made the comments during an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

According to CNN, Maduro asked Amanpour to consider how Obama would react to a political group planning to overthrow him.

"What would happen in the United States if a group said they were going to start something in the United States so that President Obama leaves, resigns, to change the constitutional government of the United States? Surely, the state would react, would use all the force that the law gives it to re-establish order and to put those who are against the Constitution where they belong."

Anti-government demonstrations began in February, demanding an end to goods shortages, inflation, and high crime. Protesters have accused Maduro's government of responding violently to their opposition, with at least 20 killed during protests.

[CNN]