Tag: Venezuela

Cuba May Day parade defies Trump over Maduro support

by Carlos BATISTA / Moises AVILA HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — The scent of the Cold War hung over Cuba’s May Day parade where marchers bellowed defiance against US President Donald Trump for his threats to punish the Communist-run island’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by extending the six-decade US embargo. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans turned out in the capital Havana, many of them gathering on Revolution Square from before dawn under the still-illuminated […]

Clashes break out at Venezuela May Day protest

by Alexander MARTINEZ / Esteban ROJAS CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Clashes broke out between opposition supporters and Venezuela’s armed forces in the capital Caracas on Wednesday during May Day protests with opposition leader Juan Guaido attempting to rally demonstrators against President Nicolas Maduro. National Guard troops fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters attempting to block a highway close to the airbase in eastern Caracas where Guaido had tried on Tuesday to spark a military uprising […]

How the world is reacting to Venezuela ‘coup bid’

Venezuela was plunged into heightened chaos on Tuesday after self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido said he had the support of troops to oust President Nicolas Maduro, while the government denounced what it called an attempted coup. Following are some initial reactions from world governments: – ‘Democracy cannot be defeated’ – The White House urged Venezuela’s armed forces to stand by the country’s “legitimate institutions.” President Donald Trump’s administration has been waging a mounting pressure campaign to […]

US says it ‘fully supports’ Venezuelan people’s ‘quest for freedom’

The United States on Tuesday threw its full weight behind Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, as the opposition leader said troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. “Today interim President Juan Guaido announced start of Operacion Libertad,” or “Operation Freedom,” tweeted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as Maduro’s government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup. “The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for […]

Venezuela says ‘attempted coup’ under way

by Alexander MARTINEZ Agence France Presse Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido said on Tuesday that troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro as the government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup. Hundreds of people, many waving Venezuelan flags, flocked onto a highway near a Caracas military base, and police responded with tear-gas as some of the demonstrators broke away to throw rocks at security […]

First Red Cross humanitarian aid arrives in Venezuela

by Margioni BERMÚDEZ CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — The first shipment of Red Cross humanitarian aid arrived in crisis-wracked Venezuela on Tuesday following approval from President Nicolas Maduro’s government, the organization confirmed. “This is a great step forward to support vulnerable people in the country!” tweeted Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The shipment included 24 tons of medical supplies and 14 power units to be distributed […]

Pompeo visits Colombia-Venezuela border

by Francisco JARA LIMA, Peru (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ended a visit to Peru on Sunday and traveled to the Colombian border city of Cucuta, crossed through by thousands of Venezuelans fleeing crisis under President Nicolas Maduro. After attending a Sunday service in the Peruvian capital Lima, the chief US diplomat set off shortly after noon for the final leg of his tour of South America, which began Friday in Chile. […]

Venezuela’s Guaido calls demo to maintain pressure on Maduro

by Alexander MARTINEZ CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido urged his supporters to demonstrate in the streets Saturday to maintain pressure on his rival President Nicolas Maduro, amid rising anger over the collapse of public services. Thousands of opposition supporters are expected to march through the capital Caracas from 11:00 am on Saturday as Venezuela’s power struggle is exacerbated by massive blackouts and the collapse of water supplies. Guaido, recognized as interim […]

‘Nothing is going to stop us,’ says Venezuela’s Guaido after immunity lifted

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday insisted nothing would stop his bid to remove his rival, President Nicolas Maduro, after loyalist lawmakers stripped him of parliamentary immunity and left him open to prosecution. “The people are determined and nothing is going to stop us,” the self-declared interim president, who is recognized by over 50 countries, announced to supporters and journalists. “There is no turning back in this process,” he added. […]

Venezuela’s Guaido fears arrest after court ruling

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s Juan Guaido said Tuesday he feared being abducted by government agents in the coming days after a Supreme Court request to lift his parliamentary immunity heaped pressure on the opposition leader in his power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro. “They can try to kidnap me,” said Guaido, recognized as the oil-rich country’s interim president by more than 50 countries. Monday’s decision by the Supreme Court — which is controlled by […]

Top Venezuela court calls to strip Guaido’s immunity

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s top court called on the ruling Constituent Assembly Monday to strip opposition leader Juan Guaido of parliamentary immunity. The decision by the Supreme Court of Justice could open the way for President Nicolas Maduro’s rival Guaido, recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, to be prosecuted. The court ruling cited Guaido’s violation of a ban on his travel outside Venezuela when he visited Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and […]

Venezuela cuts workday, extends school cancelation over blackouts

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s government announced Sunday that it is reducing the length of the workday and keeping schools closed due to devastating electricity blackouts plaguing the country. Crippled infrastructure, little investment in the power grid and poor maintenance mean that the widespread blackouts that have hit Venezuela throughout the month of March are likely here to stay. Add to that the country’s economic deep crisis, eye-popping inflation rate and the “brain drain” of […]