Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday called on the armed forces to oppose “any coup plotter” after a military uprising in support of Opposition leader Juan Guaido fizzled out, and subsequent street clashes left four protesters dead.
On Tuesday, Guaido — who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as the crisis-wracked country’s interim president — urged the armed forces to rise up against the embattled leader.
A small group heeded the call, but the movement failed to ignite — the military leadership ratified their support for the government, and Maduro is standing his ground despite international pressure.
“Yes, we are in combat -- keep morale high in this fight to disarm any traitor, any coup plotter,” Maduro said on Thursday at a televised event with the military high command, at which he was surrounded by soldiers.
“No one can be afraid — it is the hour to defend our right to peace,” he said at a ceremony attended by 4,500 military personnel, according to the government.
Defence minister General Vladimir Padrino said: “We’ve come to ratify our loyalty... to the supreme commander of the armed forces, who is our president, President Nicolas Maduro.” — AFP
