President Maduro took park in a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the death of Hugo Chávez
CARACAS, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has vowed to defeat a “crazed minority” that wants to remove him from power.
In a challenge to opposition leader Juan Guaidó, he has called for “anti-imperialist marches” on Saturday to coincide with anti-government protests.
Maduro’s comments were the first since Guaidó defied him and returned to the country on Monday.
Meeting trade union leaders, Guaidó told public workers to defy management orders and observe a partial strike.
As head of the opposition-led National Assembly, Guaidó proclaimed himself Venezuela’s interim president in January after the legislature declared Maduro’s re-election last year illegitimate.
Maduro has accused the opposition of trying to organise a coup with US help.
Speaking at an event marking the sixth anniversary of the death of his predecessor and political mentor, Hugo Chávez, Maduro said: “While a crazed minority continues with their hatred, with their bitterness, it’s their problem. We won’t pay attention to them, compatriots.”
In front of gathered military personnel, he added: “We’re going to stop them in their tracks, their work, the national union. Let the crazy minority continue with their bitterness, we’ll defeat them. For Chávez we’ll do it, for the great history of the country we’ll do it.”
While international pressure on the president has steadily increased – more than 50 countries, including the US and most Latin American nations, have recognised Mr Guaidó as interim leader – Maduro has dismissed all calls for him to step down.
Backed by China and Russia, Maduro insists he is the only legitimate president.
On Monday, Guaidó arrived back in the capital, Caracas, despite the threat of arrest after he defied a Supreme Court-imposed travel ban on leaving the country. He visited several Latin American countries to lobby for international help. — NNN-AGENCIES
