CARACAS, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido called for mass protests across the country against President Nicolas Maduro on Monday as he announced his return after a week touring Latin American allies.
“I’m announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilise all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT),” Juan Guaido said in a Twitter message on Sunday.
Guaido, who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as interim president, gave no details of when or how he would return, though speculation is rife that a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota to Caracas is the most likely route.
However, its possible that he plans to slip across the border with Colombia in the same way he left Venezuela, claiming he had help on that occasion from Maduro’s military.
In a second tweet Guaido said he would provide an account of his tour and announce the opposition’s “next actions” on social networks at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Monday).
Guaido held talks in Salinas – a coastal resort town west of Guayaquil – on Saturday with President Lenin Moreno, and met with Venezuelan refugees.
On Sunday around noon he flew out of Salinas without revealing his destination.
Defying a Venezuelan government travel ban, Guaido slipped across the border to Colombia on Feb 23 in an attempt to escort in truckloads of international humanitarian aid. While in Colombia he met with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence.
The 35-year-old political newcomer continued on to Brazil, where he met the new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday travelled to Paraguay and Argentina.
Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, stunned the world on Jan 23 when he proclaimed himself Venezuela’s acting president after the legislature declared Maduro a usurper and illegitimate over his May 2017 re-election, which was widely criticised as fraudulent. Maduro’s new term in office began on Jan 10.
Guaido wants to oust Maduro and set up a transitional government ahead of new elections.
Maduro – who retains the support of Venezuela’s powerful military – enjoys strong support from Russia, which accuses Washington of interventionism, and China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars in loans to Maduro’s regime.
Maduro warned last week that Guaido should “respect the law” and would have to “face justice” if he returns to the country.
Guaido said last week he intended to return to Venezuela “despite threats” to arrest him. The US and other allies have expressed concern for his safety. — NNN-AGENCIES
