Trump admits option to kill Maduro was considered in US operation

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump revealed that his government had considered the possibility of killing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in his arrest operation.

The statement immediately drew the attention of the international community and further exacerbated tensions related to the United States' actions in the Latin American country.

"It could have happened," Trump told reporters on Saturday, when asked if the option of using lethal force was considered in the operation.

Trump also said Maduro had tried to escape to a safe location during the operation, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement quoted by a number of media outlets, Caine said that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who the United States said had been indicted, had finally surrendered and were being held by the US Department of Justice with the support of the US military.

Caine stressed that the operation was carried out with "professionalism and precision" and did not cause any casualties on the part of the United States.