Venezuela's supreme court orders VP Delcy Rodriguez to serve as acting president

CARACAS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice on late Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to immediately assume the role of acting president after President Nicolas Maduro's capture.

The judiciary's decision was read on national radio and television by the court's magistrate Tania D'Amelio.

"It is ordered that the citizen Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, executive vice-president of the republic, assume and exercise in the capacity of acting President, all the powers, duties and faculties inherent to the position of President," said the supreme court decision.

The order also said that Rodriguez's role as acting president "should be exercised immediately."