Venezuela protests flare amid coup plot claims

Protesters marched on military installations and demanded end to ‘brutal repression’

Thousands of Venezuelans marched yesterday in a new flare-up of protests against Nicolas Maduro, as the embattled president claimed several people had been detained over an alleged “coup” plot aimed at triggering a US military intervention.

Protesters in the capital and other cities marched on military installations, where they demanded an end to “brutal repression” and called for Maduro’s resignation and new elections.

A 22-year-old protester died outside the base on Thursday, three days after a 17-yearold was killed when national guardsmen opened fire. The death toll in three months of protests now stands at 75. The government and opposition blame each other for the violence. The opposition coalition known as MUD yesterday called on the military to “lower its weapons.”

Yesterday’s protests coincided with the commemoration of the Battle of Carabobo of June 24, 1821, which marked a decisive step towards Venezuela’s independence from colonial rule.

Addressing a crowd after a traditional military parade, Maduro claimed that an unspecified number of people had been detained and would face military trial over an alleged coup plot, backed by Venezuelan opposition leaders and aimed at precipitating a US intervention in the country.

Maduro has repeatedly claimed that the US is to blame for the grave political and economic crisis in the oil-producing country.