Venezuela still in dark; Guaido wants ‘state of alarm’ declared

CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido will ask lawmakers on Monday to declare a ''state of alarm'' over the country's devastating blackout in order to facilitate the delivery of international aid – a chance to score points in his power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro.

At least 15 patients with advanced kidney disease were reported to have died since the massive power outage began on Thursday, as hospitals struggled to provide emergency services and the threat of spoiling food supplies put many on edge.

''We must attend to this catastrophe immediately. We cannot turn away from it,'' said Guaido, the 35-year-old leader of the National Assembly who in January declared himself interim president, triggering a power struggle in the oil-rich South American country of 30 million.

On Sunday, he told reporters he would convene an emergency session of the opposition-controlled National Assembly to declare the ''state of alarm'' -- setting up another test of wills with Maduro.

On Sunday, Maduro – who has presided over a calamitous economic collapse that has left people in need of basic food and medicine – vowed not to back down.

''This macabre strategy to bring us to a confrontation will fail,'' he wrote on Twitter.

Power was restored late Sunday in some areas of the capital Caracas, sparking enthusiastic cheers. But already twice so far, the restoration of electricity has been fleeting.