Venezuela's president says Donald Trump is 'the new Hitler'

'We are prepared to take further action if the government of Venezuela persists on its path to impose authoritarian rule on the Venezuelan people,' Mr Trump had said earlier

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called Donald Trump “the new Hitler” of international politics, responding to the US President's call for world leaders to help restore democracy in the South American country.

Mr Trump had used a portion of his stark address to the United Nations General Assembly to single out Mr Maduro's government, which the US leader has called a “dictatorship”.

“The magnate thinks he is the owner of the world, but no one threatens Venezuela,” said Mr Maduro, who did not attend the annual gathering of world leaders and diplomats.

Mr Maduro also accused Mr Trump of threatening to assassinate him, even though the US leader did no such thing.

“The Venezuelan people are starving and their country is collapsing. Their democratic institutions are being destroyed. This situation is completely unacceptable and we cannot stand by and watch,” Mr Trump said. “I ask every country represented here today to be prepared to do more to address this very real crisis.”

Last month, Mr Trump signed an executive order imposing stronger financial sanctions on Venezuela, escalating the US's crackdown on the South American country.

Recession and currency controls in Venezuela have led to declines in local production and imports of foreign goods, resulting in shortages of everything from flour to vaccines and medicines. The crisis is so severe that 75 per cent of the country’s population has lost an average of 19 pounds in weight, a study by three Venezuelen universities has found.

During his speech on Tuesday, Mr Trump threatened to build upon the US's sweeping economic sanctions if Mr Maduro “persists on a path to impose authoritarian rule.”

However, he did not repeat his earlier threat to consider military options, a day after dining with leaders of four Latin American countries who made clear they would oppose such action.

“We are fortunate to have incredibly strong and healthy trade relationships with many of the Latin American countries gathered here today,” Mr Trump said in his speech. “Our economic bond forms a critical foundation for advancing peace and prosperity for all of our people and all of our neighbors.”

AP contributed to this report