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CARACAS/BEIJING, Feb. 24-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro vowed to devote his life "to the defense of the country," as countries including Cuba and Bolivia reiterated their support for the Venezuelan government. On Saturday, which marks one month after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the "interim president," Maduro said he is "tougher than ever" to continue taking the country's reins before tens of thousands of Venezuelans gathering in central Caracas. He said he would be "tough, and standing, governing this country now and for many years, facing destiny, with the reins in hand." He also said he would not back down and would defend the country from any attack with his life, if necessary. "My life is devoted to the defense of the country, in whatever circumstance I will never bend, I will never give up," Maduro said. On the same day, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel reaffirmed his country's support for Venezuela's ruling party, saying Venezuela is "not alone." The Communist Party of Cuba has called for international mobilization to prevent a war in Venezuela, denouncing in a statement the "escalation of U.S. pressures and actions." In Bolivia, President Evo Morales also warned that any intervention in Venezuela "will only bring war." "Our Latin American brothers cannot be complicit to a military intervention. Defending Venezuela is defending the sovereignty of Latin America," Morales tweeted. | 
