Venezuela uprising
President says coup ‘defeated’ as Guaido takes to the streets
OPPOSITION leader Juan Guaido took a bold step to revive his movement to seize power in Venezuela, taking to the streets on Tuesday to call for a military uprising that drew quick support from the Trump administration and fierce resistance from forces loyal to socialist Nicolas Maduro.
The violent street battles that erupted in parts of Caracas were the most serious challenge yet to Mr Maduro’s rule.
And while the rebellion seemed to have garnered only limited military support, at least one high-ranking official announced he was breaking with Mr Maduro, in a setback for the embattled president.
In a Tuesday night appearance on national television, Mr Maduro declared the opposition had attempted to impose an “illegitimate government” with the support of the US and neighbouring Colombia.
Meanwhile, Mr Guaido sought to keep the momentum going at the end of the day by releasing his own video message in which he pressed Venezuelans to take to the streets again on Wednesday.
The competing quests to solidify a hold on power capped a dramatic day that included a tense moment when several armoured vehicles ploughed into a group of anti-government demonstrators trying to storm the capital’s air base, hitting at least two protesters.
US National Security Adviser John Bolton said the Trump administration was waiting for three key officials, including Mr Maduro’s defence minister and head of the supreme court, to act on what he said were private pledges to remove Mr Maduro. He did not provide details.
The stunning events began early Tuesday when Mr Guaido, flanked by a few dozen national guardsmen and some armoured crowdcontrol vehicles, released the three- minute video shot near the Carlota air base.
In a surprise, Leopoldo Lopez, Mr Guaido’s political mentor and the nation’s most-prominent opposition activist, stood alongside him.
Detained in 2014 for leading a previous round of antigovernment unrest, Mr Lopez said he had been released from house arrest by security forces adhering to an order from Mr Guaido.
“I want to tell the Venezuelan people: This is the moment to take to the streets and accompany these patriotic soldiers,” Mr Lopez declared.
As the two opposition leaders co-ordinated actions from a highway overpass, troops loyal to Mr Maduro fired tear gas from inside the adjacent air base, briefly dispersing the crowd.