Moscow, Jan. 7 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called for "guaranteed sovereign development" across Latin America and the Caribbean after Venezuela's recent regime change, following the US's military action in its capital of Caracas and the capture of ousted leader and deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

It urged respect for national sovereignty and an end to external interference following the US operation in the South American nation.

In a strongly worded statement, Moscow reaffirmed its support for Venezuela's right to independently determine its political future and stressed that Latin America and the Caribbean "must remain a zone of peace".

The ministry said all countries in the region should b...