Seven Venezuelan military officers killed in helicopter crash

Seven Venezuelan military officers have been killed after their helicopter crashed while heading to a state where President Nicolas Mad uro appeared alongside troops, days after the opposition called in vain for a military uprising.

The Cougar helicopter hurtled into a mountain outside Caracas in the early hours of an overcast day in the capital. An investigation was under way.

The armed forces in a statement said the helicopter was heading to San Carlos in Cojedes state, near a military academy where Mr Maduro appeared early on Saturday to oversee training exercises following a week of intrigue that saw a small group of security forces turn against him in the failed attempt by opposition leader Juan Guaido to overthrow the Socialist government.

On board

the helicopter were two lieutenant colonels and five lower-ranking officers. The statement did not say if the helicopter was part of the presidential delegation.

In Caracas on Saturday, a protester handed over a written appeal for the militar y’s support but a Venezuelan policeman burned the document and let the ashes fall to the ground.

The armed forces “won’t be blackmailed or bought”, said a second officer standing nearby.

“It’s a humiliation,” said Benito Rodriguez, a demonstrator who had joined a crowd of about 150 protesters gathered near La Casona, a residence historically used by pre sidents.

The scene highlights the battle facing opponents of Mr Maduro who have failed to persuade the country’ s security forces to join efforts to oust him.

The critical role of the Venezuela n military in the country’ s crisis was on display as Mr Mad urotri ed to portray strength by joining troops at the militar y academy, while Mr Guaido attempted to woo the armed forces to his side by urging supp or ters to the streets.

National television showed Mr Maduro wearing a camouflage hat as he shook hands a n d exc h a n g e d f i s t b u mp s with security forces during a visit to a military base before watching troops engage in a shooting exercise.

“Loyal forever,” Mr Maduro shouted to a crowd of cadets.

Mr Guaido, meanwhile, told backers to go to militar y garrisons to persuade forces to t u r n a ga in s t Mr Madu r o , a former bus driver whose years in office have been marked by escalating hardship for most people in a countr y that was once one of the wealthiest in Latin America.

Mr Maduro’s government has not moved to arrest Mr Guaido, whom more than 50 o t h e r n a t i o n s r e c o g n i s e a s Venezuela’s rightful leader.

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