Violent clashes in Venezuela after opposition leader Juan Guaido calls for military uprising

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido called for a military uprising on Tuesday, appearing alongside armed soldiers and declaring the “final phase” of removing president Nicolas Maduro was underway.  In a three-minute video posted on social media, Mr Guaido praised the “brave soldiers” and "patriots" who had abandoned the government to join his cause and urged others to do likewise.  Leopoldo Lopez, a fellow opposition politician, also appeared in the video despite being held under house arrest since 2017. He claimed forces loyal to Mr Guaido had released him. Mr Maduro’s government labelled the drive a “coup” attempt, a description echoed by supportive politicians abroad, and vowed to crack down on the “military traitors”.  However senior US administration figures gave their vocal backing, with vice president Mike Pence, secretary of state Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton all issuing supportive statements.      En el marco de nuestra constitución. Y por el cese definitivo de la usurpación. https://t.co/3RD2bnQhxt— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) April 30, 2019   Hundreds of supporters gathered near the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, the military airport in Caracas where Mr Guaido’s video appeared to have been shot, after it was posted online.  Violent clashes followed with reports of around 70 soldiers wearing blue armbands in support for Mr Guaido squaring off against security forces loyal to the regime.  Footage showed tear gas being fired into the crowds and, at one point, a military vehicle ramming into a group of protesters as the scene turned ugly.   Yet in the immediate hours after the call for an uprising there were few public signs that Venezuela’s military leaders had abandoned their support for Maduro.  The move was the boldest attempt yet by Mr Guaido, who cited conditional powers to declare himself interim president in January, to force Mr Maduro from power.  Opposition demonstrators clashes with soldiers loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after troops joined opposition leader Juan Guaido Credit: Matias DELACROIX / AFP His claim has been supported by America and more than 50 other countries, some of whom have implemented sanctions. But others, including Russia, are backing Mr Maduro. In the video, Mr Guaido, 35, spoke directly to camera as more than a dozen soldiers dressed in military uniform, some holding guns, stood to attention behind him. “Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men loyal to the Constitution have followed our call,” said Mr Guaido, who is also president of the country’s National Assembly.  He called on people to take to the streets all over Venezuela and claimed that “the definitive end of the usurpation starts today”. He added: “Today as the caretaker president of Venezuela, as the legitimate commander-in-chief of the armed forces, I call on all soldiers, the military family, to accompany us in this mission.”    Support for Venezuela leadership Mr Lopez, seen as Mr Guaido’s political mentor, stood behind him and watched on. He later said he had been released from house arrest by security forces adhering to an order from Mr Guaido. “I want to tell the Venezuelan people: This is the moment to take to the streets and accompany these patriotic soldiers," Mr Lopez said.  Soon after the video, which appeared to have been filmed in the early morning, was posted online the move was condemned by Mr Maduro’s ministers.  Vladimir Padrino, the Venezuelan defence minister, said: "We reject this coup movement, which aims to fill the country with violence.” He insisted the country’s forces remained loyal to Mr Maduro.  A Venezuelan man hugs a member of the security forces in Caracas on April 30, 2019 Credit: AFP   Jorge Rodriguez, the country’s information minister, wrote on Twitter that the “military traitors" who were seeking to promote a “coup” were being confronted.  A Kremlin spokesman and the Bolivan president Evo Morales, key allies of Mr Maduro, called the uprising a “coup” attempt. Cuba’s foreign minister also denounced the move.  But Donald Trump’s administration issued statements of support. Mr Pence tweeted to Mr Guaido and his supporters: “We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom and democracy are restored.”  Sprain, instrumental in shaping the European Union’s stance on Venezuela, was more cautious, with a government spokesman calling for a “peaceful democratic process” rather than “bloodshed”.  It was unclear whether Mr Guaido’s message had resonated with the military leaders whose support is critical in keeping Mr Maduro in power despite a crumbling economy and electricity blackouts.  A soldier in the group with Mr Guaido denied government claims they had been tricked into acting, telling Reuters: “We're all afraid, but we had to do it.” Another protest called for by Mr Guaido and his supporters is due to take place on Wednesday.