<span style="color: #222222;">UN chief Antonio Guterres today appealed for dialogue to stop Venezuela's political crisis spiralling out of control, after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Guterres said, sovereign governments have the possibility to decide whatever they want. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In another statement, Guterres's office said, he is also concerned over reports of casualties in the context of demonstrations and unrest in Venezuela. The secretary-general also calls for a transparent and independent investigation of these incidents.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Guaido's announcement came amid violence that has killed at least 13 people this week, according to a toll by the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The United States, Brazil and other countries yesterday endorsed Guaido's declaration in repudiation of President Nicolas Maduro, as more protests rocked the economically strapped country.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Maduro has presided over a deepening economic crisis that has left millions in poverty as the oil-rich country faces shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Some 2.3 million people have fled the country since 2015, according to the United Nations, while the International Monetary Fund says inflation will hit a staggering 10 million percent this year.</span><br />''