VENEZUELA IN FLAMES
Four killed, hundreds injured as army repels aid convoys at border
the crisis in Venezuela has exploded into renewed bloodshed with clashes over aid convoys leaving at least four dead and hundreds more injured.
troops loyal to president Nicolas Maduro violently drove back the convoys trying to bring supplies from Brazil and Colombia.
three trucks carrying much-needed food and medical aid went up in flames in clashes on the Colombian border and nearly 300 people were injured.
Aid workers, who were defying Mr Maduro’s ban on foreign help, tried to push through lines of troops but were hit with tear gas and rubber bullets. At the same time, anti-Maduro protesters burned buildings and threw missiles at soldiers and riot police.
On the Brazilian border, at least four people were killed – including a 14-yearold boy – and 18 injured by gunfire, according to human rights groups. In the border town of urena, streets were still strewn with debris yesterday including the charred remains of a bus that had been set ablaze by protesters. Residents were pulling pieces from the still-smouldering wreckage to sell as scrap metal.
Calls to liberate the impoverished country from its current regime were growing last night.
Juan Guaido, recognised by many western nations as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, urged foreign powers to consider ‘ all options’ in ousting the Venzuelan president, ahead of today’s meeting of regional governments in Bogota, Colombia.
Mr Maduro – who has previously been backed by Labour leader and fellow socialist Jeremy Corbyn – has denounced Mr Guaido as a US puppet who is seeking to front a coup. But Brazil’s foreign ministry said: ‘the use of force against the Venezuelan people, who are eager to receive international humanitarian aid, is a criminal act committed by the Maduro regime. Brazil calls on the international community, especially those countries that have not yet recognised Juan Guaido, to join in the liberation effort of Venezuela.’ Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, again raised the possibility of military intervention, saying: ‘the US will take action against those who oppose the peaceful restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Now is the time to act in support of the needs of the desperate Venezuelan people.’
he is scheduled to join a meeting of Latin American nations today to discuss new ways to pressure Mr Maduro.
he said: ‘there’s more sanctions to be had. there’s more humanitarian assistance I think that we can provide. the Venezuelan people will hold accountable those who have done so much harm to the fundamental basic rights.
‘I’m confident that the Venezuelan people will ensure that Maduro’s days are numbered.’