Venezuela makes moves to claim Guyanan territory

Venezuela claims it has large public support to take over the territory of Essequibo, which has long been ruled by neighbouring Guyana. This, Al Jazeera reports, follows a referendum which was held in Venezuela over the weekend despite warnings from the International Court of Justice to refrain from “taking any action” that could alter the status quo in the region. Caracas considers Essequibo, which is larger than Greece and rich in minerals, as its own because the region was within its boundaries during Spanish colonial times. The Guyanese government however insists on retaining the border determined by an arbitration panel in Paris in 1899.