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Tear Gas, Gunfire As Venezuela's Guaido Says 'Final Phase' Of Bid To Oust Maduro Under Way

By RFE/RL April 30, 2019

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said he has begun the "final phase" of his plan to oust President Nicolas Maduro, claiming support from "brave soldiers," but backers of Maduro said they remained in control.

Officials in Maduro's government denounced Guaido's actions on April 30 as an attempted coup, and reports said that tear gas was fired at Guaido and dozens of men in military uniform at a rally outside an air base in Caracas.

Citing witnesses, Reuters reported that Guaido's uniformed backers were exchanging fire with soldiers acting in support of Maduro.

"People are going to continue arriving, [military] units who are on the side of the constitution are going to be arriving," Guiado told reporters. "We invite the world to witness what is going to happen here which, as always, is within the parameters of the constitution, democratic and nonviolent as it has been up to now -- always demanding the end of the usurpation."

Maduro said in a tweet that he had "total support" from the military, but called for a mobilization of "the militias" and ended his message with "we will win."

Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Twitter that Maduro's socialist government was confronting a small "coup attempt" led by military "traitors" backed by right-wing opponents.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said that the armed forces remained "firmly in defenSe" of Maduro's government and that all military units nationwide had reported "normality" at their barracks and military bases.

Guaido, whose claim to the presidency is backed by the United States and other countries, appeared in a video shot next to the La Carlota air base surrounded by several heavily armed soldiers backed by a handful of armored vehicles.

Guaido said soldiers who had taken to the streets were protecting Venezuela's constitution, a day ahead of a planned anti-government rally.

"The moment is now," he said.

The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Twitter that "America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that the U.S. "fully supports" Guaido's call for the start of "Operacion Libertad (Operation Freedom)" and that Washington stands with the Venezuelan people "in their quest for freedom and democracy."

On Twitter, U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton said the military "must protect the Constitution and the Venezuelan people. It should stand by the National Assembly and the legitimate institutions against the usurpation of democracy."

"The United States stands with the people of Venezuela," Bolton wrote, addressing defense chief Padrino in the tweet.

The White House said that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the events in Venezuela and was monitoring the situation.

Russia, Iran, China, and Cuba are among countries supporting Maduro, who started a second term in January following a May 2018 election marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging, leading to mass street protests.

In March, Russia, which has substantial economic ties to Maduro's government, sent planes to Venezuela carrying nearly 100 military personnel the U.S. government believes included special forces and cybersecurity experts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Venezuela, among other topics, with members of his Security Council, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/venezuela-in-turmoil -as-guaido-says-final-phase-of-bid-to-oust- maduro-under-way/29912458.html

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Tear Gas, Gunfire As Venezuela's Guaido Says 'Final Phase' Of Bid To Oust Maduro Under Way