CARACAS, May 1 (NNN-TELESUR) – The Venezuelan opposition lawmaker has once again called on the military to overthrow the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Juan Guaido, the opposition lawmaker who illegally proclaimed himself “interim president” of Venezuela Tuesday morning made a call on social media asking the military and people to begin an uprising against the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Senior government officials have rejected the attempted coup and called on the country’s population to do the same and march towards the Miraflores presidential palace to protect the country from the far-right, U.S.-backed coup.
Thousands of citizens have accepted the call and marched Tuesday to the palace to attend a rally led by the head of the National Consistent Assembly Diosdado.
UPDATE 8:00 pm (local time)
Chile’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Roberto Ampuero, tweeted that opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez and his family are now moving to the Spanish Embassy.
“I want to update the information: Lilian Tintori and Leopoldo Lopez -of Spanish descent- moved to the embassy of Spain. It is a personal decision, considering that our embassy already had guests.”Quiero actualizar información: Lilian Tintori y Leopoldo López -de ascendencia española- se trasladaron a embajada de España. Se trata de una decisión personal, considerando que nuestra embajada ya tenía huéspedes.
UPDATE 7:00 pm (local time)
Caricom leadership has issued a statement appealing “for calm and peace,” while reiterating a pledge that CARICOM will continue to make every effort to help bring a peaceful resolution to Venezuela’s political situation.
Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza has categorically called U.S. allegations regarding President Maduro and high ranking officials as “fake news.”
UPDATE 5:37 pm (local time)
The National Liberation Farabundo Marti Front (FMLN) from El Salvador has released a statement condemning emphatically the coup attempt and reject all attempts to gain power through violence.
“We pronounce ourselves in defense to the respect of sovereignty and self-determination of the Latin American people and the world in its social and revolutionary transformation projects.”
UPDATE: 5:20 pm (local time)
President Donald Trump threatens Cuba with a “full embargo” if they do not stop their support for Venezuela.
UPDATE: 4:30 pm (local time)
A teleSUR correspondent in Brazil has received confirmation from the Foreign Ministry of Brazil that 25 soldiers that have asked for protection in the Brazilian embassy in Caracas.
UPDATE: 4:04 pm
Russia’s Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that “if Washington does not stop interfering in the affairs of Venezuela, it will lead to the collapse of the situation.”
She commented also that some Washington politicians cannot appreciate how destructive that path can be “which is strange because everyone else already sees it”.
Zakharova made these statements after U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton requested a “regime change” in Venezuela.
UPDATE: 3:48 pm
During a press conference from New York, the Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations Samuel Moncada said that Tuesday’s “coup attempt seeks to promote a puppet government, but failed because most of our people want to live in peace and with the right to self-determination.”
The Venezuelan official also called on the international community to reject the far-right violent attempt, for it “violates every U.N Charter and undermines peace.”
The diplomat pointed out that the U.S. government has openly admitted that it has participated in today’s new conspiracy act and commented that “it’s a psychopathic, warlike elite that is using all media with a bombard of fake news.”
Regarding Venezuela opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez asylum request at the Chilean embassy, Moncada said that “those gentlemen have been defeated, but that defeat will have consequences in many parts of that fictitious government.”
UPDATE: 3:11 pm
Chile’s Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Ampuero confirmed that Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez and his family requested asylum at the Chilean embassy in Caracas.
“Lilian Tintori and her daughter entered as guests of our diplomatic mission in Caracas. A few minutes ago her spouse, Leopoldo Lopez, joined his family in that place. Chile reaffirms commitment with Venezuelan democrats,” Minister Ampuero tweeted.
UPDATE: 3:30 pm
Jill Stein, a medical doctor and former Green Party candidate in the U.S. presidential elections in 2012 and 2016, rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to destabilize Venezuela in order to grab its oil resources.
UPDATE: 3:11 pm
The Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) condemned in the strongest terms the U.S.-backed coup attempt and called to “abash imperialism”.
“The CPK congratulates the Venezuelan military and the Venezuelan masses for crushing the U.S backed coup. We call upon the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan Government to move with speed, arrest the coup plotters and subject them to the Venezuelan criminal justice system. Abash US Imperialism abash!”
UPDATE: 3:07 pm
The Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) issued a statement rejecting the coup attempt and standing with the Venezuelan constitutional government.
“The SFG unreservedly condemns the attempted coup in Venezuela instigated by the U.S and other reactionary centers. We salute the revolutionary armed forces of Venezuela for their dignity and commitment to the constitutional order. The SFG expresses its full solidarity with the Government and people of Venezuela resisting imperialist aggression.”
UPDATE: 2:02 pm
Facing a new failed coup attempt in Venezuela, the U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton tried again to threaten and bribe Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, Presidential Guard commander Ivan Hernandez, and Supreme Justice president Maikel Moreno by promising them special favors in exchange for supporting the opposition politician Guaido.
“Your time is up. This is your last chance. Accept Interim President Guaido’s amnesty, protect the Constitution, and remove Maduro, and we will take you off our sanctions list. Stay with Maduro, and go down with the ship,” said Bolton.
UPDATE: 2:35 pm
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attempted coup led by Venezuelan opposition politicians Juan Guaido and Leopoldo Lopez.
“Those who make efforts to appoint a colonial governor in Venezuela should know that you can only decide how to govern a country through democratic elections,” said Erdogan, referring to the countries which have expressed their support for the Venezuelan opposition.
UPDATE: 2:30 pm
U.S. President Donald Trump broke his silence to tacitly support the coup attempt which Guaido initiated Tuesday morning in Venezuela.
“I am monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely. The United States stands with the People of Venezuela and their Freedom!”
UPDATE: 2:25 pm
Mexico’s Communist Party spoke in favor of the self-determination of the Venezuelan people who are currently resisting a new U.S.-backed attack.
“Solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of this U.S. Trump administration-promoted coup d’etat. They are the ones who have to decide their destiny, without imperialist interference or intervention.”
UPDATE: 2:17 am
Chile’s Communist Party expressed its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and rejected the U.S.-backed coup attempt.
“There is no place to ‘half-way measures’ anymore: NO to the coup d’etat in Venezuela. We condemn and reject the Venezuelan right-wing triggered violence, which is headed by Guaido, supported by the Lima Group and the United States. Once again, they will not pass!”
UPDATE: 2:10 pm
Jean-Luc Melenchon, a French socialist politician and congressman, tweeted that “an ultra tiny, minority military quadroon is attempting, along with the self-proclaimed president Guaido -the puppet- a coup in Venezuela. The Colombian right-wing calls in vain for the secession of the [Bolivarian] Army. Does [French President] Macron approve the military coup attempt?”
UPDATE: 1:52 pm
“I was in La Carlota [Air Base] when we heard shots coming from the distributor Altamira taken by a group of military traitors and this was just the moment when they fire. Watch closely, even the civilians who were there they also take out their weapons.”
“And this is how we lived the moment inside La Carlota when they [the opposition members] shot from the Altamira highway distributor. We heard the blast of shots and then silence.”
UPDATE: 1:46 pm
The State of Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the coup attempt against Venezuelan constitutional President Nicolas Maduro.
“The Ministry expresses its full solidarity with the Venezuelan brave people which rejects foreign hegemony and domination … On behalf of the Palestinian State and its people, the Ministry also declares its solidarity with the elected and legitimate leadership of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which is represented by President Nicolas Maduro.”
The Palestinian Authority also disapproved any form of foreign intervention in Venezuela, either through military actions or economic sanctions. The Ministry expressed its position in favor of dialogue as a way to resolve any conflict among Venezuelan political forces.
UPDATE: 1:40 pm
Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino denounced that a Bolivarian army’s colonel was bullet wounded on the Francisco Fajardo highway, where Guaido-led opposition forces have been demonstrating in Caracas.
“I denounce violent aggression against Col. Yerzon Jimenez Baez, the CZGNB-43 Operations chief, who was shot in his neck on the Francisco Fajardo highway. He is entering the operating room right now. I hold the political opposition leadership responsible.”
UPDATE: 1:20 pm
Soldiers reveal to teleSUR reporters about how they were tricked into joining the attempted coup by Juan Guaido and his right-wing allies in the country.
Barbados Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration Secretary General, David Denny, rejected Tuesday the right-wing coup attempt against Venezuela’s constitutional government and stressed that this violent action is backed by the U.S. government and its regional allies.
“Our movement calls on the Caribbean governments, trade union leader, youth leaders and women organisations leaders to condemn Juan Guaido’s coup attempt, which is supported by the U.S., against the Venezuelan peaceful government and people… Long live the Bolivarian people’s revolution”, Denny said.
UPDATE: 12:52 pm
According to the Russian news agency Tass, President Vladimir Putin met the National Security Council to discuss Tuesday’s situation in Venezuela.
“The meeting’s participants paid much attention to the situation in Venezuela in light of the news about an attempted coup,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted.
“We stand on principles supporting political and civilized ways to resolve domestic differences among Venezuelan citizens. We call on all international community members, including [Venezuela’s] closest neighbors, to reaffirm their adherence to the UN Charter and the international law norms and principles, and to support the return of Venezuela to a stable and progressive development path through the dialogue of all the country’s responsible political forces.”
UPDATE: 12:40 pm
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked for “maximum restraint” in Venezuela to avoid violence, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told international media.
“The Secretary-General urges all sides to exercise maximum restraint and he appeals to all stakeholders to avoid any violence and take immediate steps to restore calm,” Dujarric said and added that Guterres was available to mediate if required.
UPDATE: 12:30 pm
Uruguay’s Communist Party expressed its solidarity with President Nicolas Maduro and requested that the Montevideo Mechanism countries -which include Uruguay, Bolivia and Mexico- act immediately to prevent any further attack to Venezuela.
“In several countries, there have been tests of coup attempts. Once the alignment of the forces is verified, those tests have materialized. Therefore, we call on all democratic and peace supporting forces… to remain alert and firm in solidarity.”
UPDATE: 12:21 pm
The Russian Foreign Ministry, which issued Tuesday a press released commenting on Venezuela’s situation, stated that the Guaido-led opposition is provoking public disorder.
“Venezuela’s radical opposition has once again turned to power methods of confrontation. Instead of a peaceful settlement of political contradictions, the course was taken to incite conflict,” the text says, as reported by RT.
Russian diplomats called on protesters to avoid unrest and bloodshed, for “any action should be taken exclusively within the framework of the law.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry also asked mainstream media not to spread “fake news” or become “political forces’ obedient tools.”
UPDATE: 12:00 pm
Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino gave a press conference to narrate how today’s attempted coup in Venezuela had occurred.
“This is a cowardly, terrorist act and an attempted coup d’état of a very small magnitude,” he said and stressed that Guaido’s far-right forces “have tricked a group of men with hijacked vehicles of our national guard to commit a terrorist act.”
Minister Padrino also mentioned that the Bolivarian militia reacted immediately to the coup attempt and “their commanders put themselves at the head of their troops to reject a cowardly act.”
UPDATE: 11:50 am
Zambia’s Socialist Party condemned the coup attempt against the Bolivarian Revolution and reaffirmed its support to President Maduro’s redistributive policies.
“Having failed over the years to kill the leadership and destroy the gains of the Bolivarian Revolution, the U.S. is now desperately turning to rogues in the army to do their dirty job. As it is to be expected, the greatest majority of the troops and all commanders are loyal to the people, the Constitution and their homeland. Commandant Nicolas Maduro is the undisputed constitutional President of Venezuela.”
The African party also pointed out the real reasons behind the so-called “Operation Liberty”, namely, the “imperial” desire to plunder Venezuelan natural resources.
“The U.S. and European imperialist powers, plus their representatives in Venezuela, have plundered that country for centuries. The Bolivarian Revolution reversed that plunder and redistributed the wealth to its people. This is against the logic of capitalist plunder. This is the reason why today a coup is underway – to deny the Venezuelan masses their regained sovereignty and dignity.”
UPDATE: 11: 30 am
During an interview with RT, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said that “the U.S. has been behind all the coup attempts in Venezuela since 2001.” This time, however, the U.S. is not “behind” but rather “in front of” the attempted coup.
“It has been demonstrated that the craft of this coup is from the U.S. and that it is they who are financing and promoting the coup”, he said and further explained, speaking more accurately, that the new coup attempt began on Jan. 23, when the opposition congressman Juan Guaido illegally self-proclaimed Venezuela’s “interim president” and the U.S. government supported such claim.
UPDATE: 11:23 am
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrad presented through twitter his country’s stance regarding the coup d’etat which opposition Juan Guaido tried to carry out this Tuesday morning.
“The Mexican government is following closely the Venezuelan ongoing situation and is concerned about a possible escalation of violence. Mexico reiterates its commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis… Through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, consultations are being held with the other sixteen Montevideo Mechanism countries in order to find a common route.”
UPDATE 11:20 am
teleSUR’s correspondents spoke to the Chavistas gathering at the Miraflores palace in support of President Maduro and in rejection of the coup.
UPDATE: 11:15 am
Jose Arnelas, the Chief of the Operational Strategic Command (CEOFAN), which is the highest command organ of the National Armed Forces, confirmed his support of the constitutional government and the Chavista revolutionary legacy.
“As a soldier of this country who remains attached to my supreme commander Hugo Chavez’ legacy, I reaffirm my absolute loyalty to my Chief commander Nicolas Maduro. Today, more than ever, we, the National Bolivarian Armed Forces will defeat those who seek to break the Republic’s peace. Overcome.”
UPDATE: 11:00 am
Venezuela’s President of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) Diosdado Cabello joined the Bolivarian people who were supporting President Nicolas Maduro outside the ANC building.
“We are a conscious, warrior and revolutionary people. Imperialism can understand it however it wants, but to the Palace of Miraflores they will never return,” he said.
UPDATE: 10:55 am
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza responded to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s tweet by showing that he is assuming a “leadership role of the coup attempt. In the name of God, he calls for violence, destruction and death. Is that being a good Christian? The People of Venezuela and their Bolivarian Armed Forces are a guarantee of peace and respect for the Constitution.”
UPDATE: 10:50 am
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) countries strongly rejected attempts to violate the constitutional order in Venezuela and pointed out that the events are “clearly a coup attempt sponsored and prompted by the Venezuelan far-right radical forces acting in complicity with the historical enemies of Latin American countries’ independence and sovereignty.”
The ALBA countries called on the Latin American peoples to defend their independence and sovereignty.
UPDATE: 10:40 am
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s claims supporting “Operation Freedom,” which is the code name used to disguising the U.S. backed military action in the Latin American country.
“The puppet chosen by the empire and its ally governments only serve to ridiculously be the image in beauty covers but with its devilish face! The brave people of Bolívar and Chávez are with the constitutional Venezuelan President @NicolasMaduro we will overcome!”
Vice President Rodriguez also pointed out “in a shameless and immoral way, the U.S. government recognizes its authorship in this criminal coup attempt against Venezuela! They’re showing the world their desire to destroy our Homeland! The Venezuelan people will continue defeating the imperial aggressions in peace! “
UPDATE: 10:15 am
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro informed the people that the leaders of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela remain loyal to the revolutionary process.
“Nerves of steel! I have spoken with the Commanders of all the country’s regions and zones of comprehensive military defense. They have manifested their full loyalty to the people, the Constitution and the Homeland. I summon the people’s supreme mobilization to ensure the victory of peace. We will win!” he twitted.
UPDATE: 10:05 am
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro called a ministerial emergency meeting to analyze the Venezuelan situation, according to Vice President Hamilton Mourao.
Regarding the coup attempt by opposition congressman Guaido, the Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said he “expects the Venezuelan military to be part of the democratic transition process… we have to see the dimension of this. Brazil supports the democratic transition process.”
UPDATE: 10: 00 am
teleSUR’s correspondent in Venezuela delivers an update on what happens on Caracas streets. Venezuelan Mayor General denies takeover of La Carlota Air Base.
UPDATE: 9:55 am
Peru’s Foreign Minister reported that President Martin Vizcarra administration supports the Guaido-led coup attempt in Venezuela and is calling an emergency meeting of The Lima Group.
“We fully support interim president Juan Guaido in his struggle to recover democracy in Venezuela. The Maduro’s usurping, dictatorial regime must come to an end … Peru and the Lima Group are closely following the situation in Venezuela with a view to summon an emergency meeting.”
UPDATE: 9:44 am
Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera supports the coup attempt which is led by opposition congressman Juan Guaido.
“We reiterate our full support for President Guaido and democracy in Venezuela. The Maduro dictatorship must end with the Venezuelan people’s peaceful force and within the constitutional frame. This will restore liberties, democracy, human rights and progress in Venezuela.”
UPDATE 9:35 am
Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Luis Almagro welcomed the “military’s adhesion” to the coup attempt in Venezuela, led by Juan Guaido.
“We welcome the adhesion of the military to the Constitution and the President in charge of Venezuela Juan Guaido. It is necessary to fully support the process of democratic transition in a peaceful way, “Almagro said.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza delivered a response to Almagro:
UPDATE: 10:05 am
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro called a ministerial emergency meeting to analyze the Venezuelan situation, according to Vice President Hamilton Mourao.
Regarding the coup attempt by opposition congressman Guaido, the Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said he “expects the Venezuelan military to be part of the democratic transition process… we have to see the dimension of this. Brazil supports the democratic transition process.”
UPDATE: 10: 00 am
teleSUR’s correspondent in Venezuela delivers an update on what happens on Caracas streets. Venezuelan Mayor General denies takeover of La Carlota Air Base.
UPDATE: 9:55 am
Peru’s Foreign Minister reported that President Martin Vizcarra administration supports the Guaido-led coup attempt in Venezuela and is calling an emergency meeting of The Lima Group.
“We fully support interim president Juan Guaido in his struggle to recover democracy in Venezuela. The Maduro’s usurping, dictatorial regime must come to an end … Peru and the Lima Group are closely following the situation in Venezuela with a view to summon an emergency meeting.”
UPDATE: 9:44 am
Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera supports the coup attempt which is led by opposition congressman Juan Guaido.
“We reiterate our full support for President Guaido and democracy in Venezuela. The Maduro dictatorship must end with the Venezuelan people’s peaceful force and within the constitutional frame. This will restore liberties, democracy, human rights and progress in Venezuela.”
UPDATE 9:35 am
Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Luis Almagro welcomed the “military’s adhesion” to the coup attempt in Venezuela, led by Juan Guaido.
“We welcome the adhesion of the military to the Constitution and the President in charge of Venezuela Juan Guaido. It is necessary to fully support the process of democratic transition in a peaceful way, “Almagro said.
UPDATE 9:18 AM
The United States government has come out in support of the coup in Venezuela.
UPDATE 9:05 AM
The Mexican government has issued a statement saying it was worried about the escalation of Violence in Venezuela and a possibility of bloodshed. It also called for resuming peace dialogue efforts that were agreed on in Montevideo.
UPDATE 8:00 AM
Bolivian President Evo Morales and Cuban President Diaz-Canel issued statements rejecting the military coup attempt in Venezuela.
UPDATE 7:30 am
Country’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino rejected the coup attempt and said that the country’s legitimate military forces would respond to any attempt to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro.
“We reject this coup movement that aims to fill the country with violence. The pseudo-political leaders who have placed themselves at the forefront of this subversive movement have used troops and police with weapons of war on a public road in the city to create anxiety and terror.”
UPDATE 7:15 am
Following Guaido’s plea, the Venezuelan Vice President of Communications, Jorge Rodriguez, tweeted that the military is confronting a group of traitors seeking to promote a coup d’Etat.
“We inform to Venezuelan people that we are currently confronting and deactivating a small group of traitors in our military personnel who positioned themselves in the Altamira Distributor to promote a Coup d’Etat against the Constitution and the peace of the Republic.”
PDATE 7:05 amPresident of the National Constituent Assembly of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, denied the capture of the Carlota Air Base, after a small group of soldiers appeared to be supporting the Guaido coup. “No military installation has been violated in the country, they are on the street in the Altamira Distributor and we are directing operations from the Carlota Air Base,” he explained. Likewise, the national government has called on the Venezuelan people to move to Miraflores to reject the coup attempt.
UPDATE: 8:45 am
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza rejected the statements of the OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro, whom he accused of sponsoring and promoting the coup d’état against President Nicolas Maduro.
“The OAS Hitman-General sponsors and promotes coup attempt in Venezuela. The OAS has always opted for violence and coups, ignoring and violating the fundamental principles of International Law and the OAS Charter” said Arreaza, after Almagro backed the uprising attempt which has been undertaken by the opposition deputy Juan Guaido.
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