* Coordinated move comes after election ultimatum
* Opposition head declared himself interim president
* Major EU nations join Trump's stance against Maduro
* Russia accuses EU of foreign meddling, Italy divided (Adds Estonia, edits)By Gabriela Baczynska and Jose El?-as Rodr?-guezBRUSSELS/MADRID, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Major European nationsjoined the United States in recognising opposition leader JuanGuaido as Venezuela's interim president on Monday, heightening aglobal showdown over Nicolas Maduro's socialist rule.The European Union members' coordinated move followed theexpiry of an ultimatum for Maduro to call a new election andaligned them with Washington against Russia and China.
The sitting Venezuelan leader, accused of running the OPECnation of 30 million people like a dictatorship and wrecking itseconomy, has defied European heads of state and called themsycophants for following President Donald Trump.Guaido, who leads the National Assembly, declared himselfcaretaker leader last month in a move that has fed into a globalgeopolitical divide and brought Venezuelans onto the streets."From today, we will spare no effort in helping allVenezuelans achieve freedom, prosperity and harmony," SpanishPrime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, recognising Guaido.Other EU nations echoing that were: Austria, Britain, theCzech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland,Portugal, and Sweden.In response, Caracas said it would revise relations withEurope. Maduro singled out "cowardly" Spain."If one day there is a coup, if one day there is a gringomilitary intervention, your hands will be stained with blood,Mr. Pedro Sanchez," he said in a speech.Maduro, 56, a former union leader, bus driver and foreignminister, has presided over an economic collapse and exodus of 3million Venezuelans.
He accuses Washington of waging "economic war" on Venezuelaand harbouring coup pretensions aimed at gaining control overits oil. Venezuela's reserves are the largest in the world butproduction has plunged under Maduro.
"ILLEGITIMATE, KLEPTOCRATIC MADURO"Critics say incompetent policies and corruption haveimpoverished the once-wealthy nation while dissent has beenbrutally crushed."The oppression of the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduroregime must end," said British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.Moscow and Beijing, which have poured billions of dollars ofinvestment and loans into Venezuela, are supporting Maduro andwarning against foreign intervention."Imposing some kind of decisions or trying to legitimise anattempt to usurp power is both direct and indirectinterference," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Maduro won re-election last year, but critics say the votewas a sham. Two opposition rivals were barred, while foodhandouts to hungry Venezuelans were linked with politicalsupport.Italy, whose coalition government is divided over Venezuela,dissented from other European powers and blocked a jointstatement saying individual nations had the prerogative torecognise Guaido. Italy's 5-Star Movement says it cannotrecognise self-appointed leaders. Ireland shared that reluctance and declined to recogniseGuaido specifically, though it did back the EU stance of callingfor a fair election.
In addition to European pressure, a bloc of Latin Americannations plus Canada were to meet on Monday seeking to maintainpressure on Maduro. "All these shameless people are clinging to power," saidLuis, a 45-year-old Venezuelan outside the consulate in Madrid."Let them hold elections so they see they won't get even 10percent of the votes."
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Marine Pennetier in Paris;Guy Faulconbridge and Mike Holden in London; Jose EliasRodriguez in Madrid; Andrew Osborn and Thomas Balmforth inMoscow; Andrei Khalip in Lisbon; Steve Scherer in Rome; Alissade Carbonnel and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Toby Sterlingin Amsterdam; Sarah Marsh in CaracasWriting by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Janet Lawrence, RaissaKasolowsky and Toby Chopra)