Donald Trump has said he wouldn't rule out a "military option" in response to the political chaos in Venezuela.

Mr Trump said the situation in the South American country is a "very dangerous mess".

He suggested: "We have troops all over the world in places that are very far away. Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering and they're dying."

The comments came after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro won a controversial election for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution.

President Maduro had previously requested a phone call with his US counterpart.

The White House now says Mr Trump will take the request as soon as "democracy is restored" in Venezuela.

Recent months have seen major protests in the country amid a constitutional crisis, with clashes having left 120 people dead. 

Thousands of others have been arrested.