Maduro stamps out Venezuela army revolt

Dissident soldiers’ attempt to set up a ‘legitimate rebellion’ ends in gunfire as president stands firm

Hannah Strange and

Mariana Zuñiga in Caracas

A GROUP of dissident Venezuelan soldiers claimed to have taken over an army base in the city of Valencia yesterday, calling on the people to support them in a “legitimate rebellion” against president Nicolas Maduro’s “murderous tyranny”.

The attempt appeared to have been quickly put down by the government, which declared it had thwarted an attack on the base by “terrorists”, and that the army was now back in control.

Two of the attackers were killed and eight were captured, President Maduro said on state television, claiming the group of “mercenaries” – whose total number he put at around 20 – had ties to Colombia and the United States. In a video circulating on social media, a group of men in military uniform purporting to represent the 41st Armoured Brigade in Valencia had announced the start of “Operation David”, which they said was a “legitimate rebellion” against a government that was destroying the country.

Other videos appeared to show people cheering and coming out on to the streets as armoured vehicles circled the base. There were reports of confrontations with shots fired and clouds of tear gas visible in some footage. The apparent uprising came two days after the installation of Mr Maduro’s controversial constituent assembly, which is empowered to rewrite the constitution and dismiss institutions deemed hostile to the government.

On Saturday it fired Luisa Ortega Diaz, the country’s rebel attorney general, and appointed a senior Chavista in her place, in a move condemned internationally as dictatorial.

Ms Ortega insisted yesterday that she remained the attorney general and could not be dismissed by an “illegitimate” assembly, which she said been elected through manipulated results and voter intimidation.

In the video message, the commander of the group, who identified himself as Captain Juan Caguaripano, called for support in his fight to defend the country’s democracy.

Diosdado Cabello, Mr Maduro’s powerful second in command, said later that they had “consolidated total control” of the base after the “attack by groups of mercenary terrorists” and had detained the leader of the group.