Skip to content
DisruptPress Beta

DisruptPress Beta

Just another WordPress site

Widget
  • Uncategorized
  • independent
    • wpa_test_article
    • script test
    • Sample Page
  • test
  • test
  • Sample Page

Venezuela crisis: Maduro aides agreed he had to go, US says

Posted on April 30, 2019 by aobrien


Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionOpposition leader Juan Guaidó is appealing to the military for support

Three members of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle agreed with the opposition that he “had to go”, but then backtracked, US officials have said.

It comes after the opposition leader Juan Guaidó called on the military to help him end Mr Maduro’s rule.

Protesters took to the streets in the capital Caracas in support on Tuesday.

But military leaders appeared to be standing behind Mr Maduro, accusing Mr Guaidó of an attempted coup.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton offered no evidence that Mr Maduro’s loyalists were preparing to abandon him. The assertions were later repeated by Elliott Abrams, the US envoy for Venezuela.

Later, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged Mr Maduro had been prepared to leave the country on Tuesday and fly to Cuba but was talked down by Russia. He also has offered no evidence of the claim.

“They had an airplane on the tarmac. He was ready to leave this morning, as we understand it. Russians indicated he should stay,” Mr Pompeo told broadcaster CNN.

Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino appeared on television surrounded by soldiers on Tuesday, asserting their continued loyalty to Mr Maduro.

However, according to the Mr Bolton, Mr Padrino was one of the men involved in three months of negotiations with the opposition.

He also named Supreme Court chief judge Maikel Moreno and presidential guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala.

Mr Bolton said they had committed to “to achieve the peaceful transition of power from the Maduro clique” to Mr Guaidó, who the US, UK and a number of the other countries recognise as Venezuela’s rightful leader.

“All agreed that Maduro had to go,” Mr Bolton told reporters in Washington.

What’s happening in Venezuela?

This morning Mr Guaidó appeared alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who had been under house arrest since being found guilty of inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014, in a three-minute video.

In it, he declared he was in the “final phase” of ending President Maduro’s rule and announced he had the support of “brave soldiers” in Caracas.

“The National Armed Forces have taken the correct decision… they are guaranteed to be on the right side of history,” he said.

However, the entire military did not appear to be backing Mr Guaidó as the morning continued.

Image copyright
AFP

Image caption

Juan Guaidó’s supporters from the Bolivarian National Guard repel forces loyal to Nicolás Maduro

The BBC’s Guillermo Olmo, in Caracas, said Tuesday marked the most violent episode of the Venezuelan political crisis so far.

There were running clashes between Mr Guaidó’s supporters and armed military vehicles. Protesters were also seen throwing rocks, but being repelled by tear gas and water cannon.

Television cameras also caught the moment armoured vehicles drove into a crowd but it is unclear if there were any injuries in that incident.

Venezuela’s health ministry said 69 people had been injured across the country.

Read more about Venezuela’s crisis:

Mr Padrino appeared on the television saying the uprising by some members of the military had been “partly defeated”, but warned of possible bloodshed.

“The weapons of the republic are here to defend the nation’s sovereignty and independence,” he warned.

He also revealed one soldier had suffered a bullet wound.

By the end of the day, Mr López, who leads the Popular Will party of which Mr Guaidó is a member, his wife Lilian Tintori and their daughter had entered Chile’s embassy in Caracas to seek protection, Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

A failure, or more to come?

by Katy Watson, BBC News

Tuesday’s events have definitely been dramatic. But it’s not clear where it leaves Venezuela.

Juan Guaidó made a bold move by saying the armed forces were on his side early in the morning. And the fact that opposition politician Leopoldo López, who was under house arrest, stood beside him was also big surprise. Who had freed him and what did that say about the loyalties of the armed forces?

But as the day went on, little clarity emerged – who exactly is behind this so-called uprising? For Juan Guaidó to achieve the regime change he’s promised, he needs the generals at the top on his side. So far though, at least publicly, they remain loyal to Mr Maduro.

The situation on the ground is still confusing – but the confidence that the opposition had at the beginning of the day looks like it’s waning.

Leopoldo López and his family are now ‘guests’ at the Chilean residence in Caracas – is that a sign that once again, the opposition’s attempts to take power have failed, or is there another dramatic twist to come?

Please upgrade your browser to view this content.




How the story unfolded



Was this timeline useful?



Thank you for your feedback.

Share this chatbot.



Source link

Posted in Uncategorized

Post navigation

NASA Investigation Uncovers Cause of Two Science Mission Launch Failures
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Champions League: Donny van de Beek scores only goal

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • NASA Updates Times for TV Coverage, Test of Rocket Core Stage for Artemis Moon Missions
  • NASA Conducts Test of SLS Rocket Core Stage for Artemis I Moon Mission
  • NASA to Host Virtual Briefing on February Perseverance Mars Rover Landing
  • NASA Science to Host Community Town Hall
  • 2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record, NASA Analysis Shows

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • November 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017

    Categories

    • Bitcoin
    • Uncategorized

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries RSS
    • Comments RSS
    • WordPress.org
    Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: aipress by Author.