US President Donald Trump on Saturday said the US will take charge of Venezuela until a safe transition of power can happen. “We will do a safe, proper transition. We want liberty, peace, and justice for Venezuelans," Trump said. He also asserted that the US will make people of Venezuela “rich and safe."

The statement comes following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The US attacked Venezuela early on Saturday morning, carrying out military strikes, capturing Maduro and his wife.

Meanwhile, the US President has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being taken to New York after being captured by US forces.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said Maduro and Flores have been indicted in New York and are being transported to the state by helicopter and ship. He alleged that the Venezuelan leader was responsible for the deaths of many people, including American citizens.

Trump said the operation to capture Maduro had been planned earlier but was delayed due to weather conditions. “The weather has to be perfect,” he said, adding that the mission was launched once conditions improved.

Describing the raid, Trump said Maduro was captured from a location “more like a fortress than a house,” with heavy steel fortifications. He claimed no US soldiers were killed in the operation, though a few were injured and are now in stable condition.

With inputs from Agencies