The National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela pledged its loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro, amid a standoff between his government and a newly elected legislature dominated by the opposition, according to Deutsche Welle.

"The president is the highest authority of the state and we reiterate our absolute loyalty and unconditional support for him," Defense Minister and Armed Forces Chief General Vladimir Padrino said.

The military also condemned the removal of portraits of both former President Chavez and Venezuela's 19th-century independence hero and "father of the nation" Simon Bolivar from the National Assembly. The military, said Padrino, had found that act an outrage to military honor and an affront to the doctrine of Bolivarianism.

The opposition MUD coalition - which claims the president is responsible for soaring inflation and major shortages of basic goods - clinched a majority in the assembly for the first time in nearly 17 years at elections on December 6.

The opposition would rely on a two-thirds super majority in the National Assembly to be able to force out Maduro.

Source: MENA