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Venezuela in crisis: All the latest updates

Venezuela in crisis: All the latest updates

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Venezuela has plunged further into political crisis amid a growing row over President Nicolas Maduro’s future as the country’s leader. 

Maduro started a second term on January 10 following a widely-boycotted election last year that many foreign governments refused to recognise.

On Wednesday, Juan Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president.

Shortly after Guaido took an oath swearing himself in before his supporters, US President Donald Trump publicly recognised him as the country’s leader. In response, Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with the United States and gave US diplomats 72 hours to get out of his country.

Maduro accused Guaido of staging a coup and ordered his arrest.

Here are all the latest updates as of Thursday, January 24: 

Russia willing to mediate in Venezuela 

A senior Russian diplomat says Moscow is ready to play mediator between Venezuela‘s government and the opposition.

Alexander Shchetinin, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Latin America department, told the state RIA Novosti news agency on Friday that “if our efforts are called for, we are ready to make the effort.”

Moscow had already denounced the US decision to recognise an opposition leader at Venezuela’s legitimate president, calling it an attempted coup.

Maduro willing to talk with challengers

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he’s willing to engage in talks with the opposition in order to avoid violence in a conflict over who is the legitimate leader of the country.

“I’m committed to a national dialogue. Today, tomorrow and always, I’m committed and ready to go wherever I have to. Personally, if I have to meet with this young man… I’ll go,” the leftist leader told a news conference.

Guido swiftly rejected the offer.

“When they don’t get the results they want through repression, they offer us fake dialogue instead,” he told a separate news conference in a Caracas square.

“I want that to be clear to the world and to this regime: nobody here is signing up for a false dialogue.”

In previous rounds of talks last year, the government and opposition failed to agree on conditions for holding presidential elections. Maduro eventually won the disputed contest.

‘When they don’t get the results they want through repression, they offer us fake dialogue instead’ Guaido said [Reuters] 

Debate in the UN Security Council 

President Maduro says he welcomes debate about Venezuela in the UN Security Council.

Russia, a permanent member of the security council and Maduro’s ally, said it will insist on compliance with international law if the council holds a meeting on Venezuela

Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido speak in Caracas

President Nicolas Maduro, called for a press conference on Friday. The self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaido also spoke on Friday. 

Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman reporting from Cucuta, Colombia, said President Maduro called the situation that is taking place in Venezuela a coup attempt that is being orchestrated and led by the United States.

“He is most likely going to reiterate that he is willing to hold dialogue, and negotiations for a constitutional peaceful way out of this crisis,” Newman said.

Nicolas Maduro also said he hopes the US fully complies with his order from earlier this week for its diplomats to leave the South American country, which came after he announced plans to break relations.

On the other hand, Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido called for a “major demonstration” next week to demand the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro, in his first public appearance since declaring himself “acting president” two days ago.

“Juan Guaido … looks very upbeat, he is talking about the extraordinary international support he has received, but he addressed mainly the armed forces ..,” Newman said. 

“Guaido is appealing to the army to side on behalf of the ordinary Venezuelan people.” 

President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a news conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas [Reuters]

Juan Guaido considering request for funds from IMF 

Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido is considering a request for funds from international institutions including the IMF to finance his interim government, two sources told Reuters.

Guaido’s team is planning to name a new board to state-run oil firm PDVSA’s US unit Citgo Petroleum and a new representative to the Inter-American Development Bank, two sources familiar with the discussions said.

Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido speaks during a news conference in Caracas [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

IMF not saying who leads Venezuela

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is avoiding saying whether it recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.

The director of the Western Hemisphere Department is saying the IMF will follow the position of its member states.

Alejandro Werner says the institution is “monitoring exactly what has been and what will be this position in the coming days.”

The IMF refused to say whether it has had any contact with either Guaido’s team or with officials working for the government of Nicolas Maduro since Guaido pledged to serve as Venezuela’s interim president on January 23.

On the other hand, the Inter-American Development Bank has recognised Guaido.

Russia does not recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido

Russia‘s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday that Moscow would oppose a US push for the UN Security Council to recognise Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.

“That will not pass,” Nebenzia told Reuters. “For us nothing changes.”

Pompeo to urge Security Council to recognise Guaido

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will brief the UN Security Council on Venezuela and urge member countries to recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

The meeting of the 15-member council was requested by the US after Washington and a string of countries in the region said they recognised Guaido as head of state and urged President Nicolas Maduro to step down.

The UN request faces opposition from Russia.

‘Turkey never sides with coup-plotters’

Turkey is against coup attempts anywhere in the world, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, voicing solidarity with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“We never side with the coup-plotters and we never will. We stand against them wherever they are across the world,” Erdogan told a rally in eastern Erzurum province.

“Now, there is a coup attempt in Venezuela, which we oppose once again. No matter where it happens, we will never side with the coup-plotters. If we believe in and support democracy, then respecting ballot boxes is what we need.”

Mexico offers to mediate

Mexico is willing to mediate between the Venezuelan government and the opposition to seek a solution to the country’s political crisis, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.

Mexico would undertake the task on condition that both sides ask for it, Lopez Obrador said at a press conference.

Analyst: US is seeking to control ‘Venezuela’s oil’

“According to international law, and according to the Venezuelan constitution …. the people who are legitimately able to name a president in Venezuela are the citizens in Venezuela … ,” Peter Dobson, a Venezuelan political analyst told Al Jazeera. 

“I think [that if] we call this anything other than a coup d’etat or an attempted coup d’etat, we will be mistaken.

“[The white house is attempting to oust President Maduro for] the same reason there were some intents on ousting president Chavez in 2002 or Maduro in 2014.

“One simple word oil, the control of the oil resources in Venezuela, as well as the diamonds, the gold, the water, the gas and a whole range of natural resources, is massively important for the United States, and [their] geostrategic interests across the world,” he added.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro attends a rally in support of his government [File:Reuters]

Spain pushes for election deadline 

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell says that Spain is pushing for the European Union to back Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido if President Nicolas Maduro does not call elections by a deadline yet to be set.

The deadline is being discussed Friday by officials of the 28 countries in Brussels and Borrell says it should be “short and minimal,” without further specifying.

“We are trying to look for a solution that avoids confrontation and more deaths,” Borrell told reporters during a weekly government briefing.

US diplomats leave Caracas embassy

A US official says that some American diplomats and their families have headed in a caravan to the Venezuelan capital’s airport amid diplomatic standoff with President Nicolas Maduro.

A letter written by a US Embassy security officer requesting a Venezuelan police escort for 10 vehicles was leaked earlier Friday on social media.

Maduro on Wednesday gave the US diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.

Germany: ‘Venezuela needs a chance to return to democracy’

Germany says it favours recognising Venezuela’s opposition leader as the country’s interim president unless there are free and fair elections soon.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday that “Venezuela needs a chance to return to democracy” and Germany does not consider President Nicolas Maduro to be legitimate.

Seibert said Germany is eager for the European Union to reach a common line on Venezuela at a meeting of diplomats in Brussels on Friday.

UN calls for Venezuela probes 

The UN human rights chief has called for independent investigations into violence linked to protests in Venezuela, allegedly involving excessive use of force by security or pro-government forces that reportedly left at least 20 people dead.

Michelle Bachelet‘s office in Geneva said that she “urged all sides to conduct immediate talks to defuse the increasingly incendiary atmosphere.”

She said an independent, impartial probe was needed for any violence leading to death or injury, whether caused by excessive force by security forces or armed groups – pro-government or not.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Friday “at least 20 people are reported by credible local sources to have died after allegedly being shot by security forces or members of pro-government armed groups during demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday.”

India calls for dialogue 

India called for dialogue among stakeholders in Venezuela amid the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich South American nation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar told news website Wire on Friday: “..it is for the people of Venezuela to find a political solution to resolve their differences through constructive dialogue and discussion without resorting to violence.”

“We believe democracy, peace and security in Venezuela are of paramount importance for the progress and prosperity of the people of Venezuela,” Kumar said, adding that the two countries enjoyed “close and cordial relations.”

Maduro thanks Russia, China and Turkey for support

In a post on Twitter, Maduro hails Moscow, Beijing and Ankara for their support amid the crisis.

“I thank Russia, China, Turkey and other governments and people of the world for their strong support of the legitimately established government of Venezuela” he said in a Twitter post.

“Venezuela is not alone!” he adds.

Guaido says Maduro amnesty on the table

In his first comments since declaring himself interim president, Guaido says he would consider granting amnesty to Maduro and his allies if they helped return Venezuela to democracy.

The remarks are part of a soon-to-be aired interview the opposition leader gave to Univision that were published on its website.

Guaido says that amnesty is on the table for anybody willing to help return Venezuela to constitutional order.

US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Venezuela

The US State Department orders non-emergency government employees to leave Venezuela and said US citizens should “strongly consider” leaving the country, the US Embassy in Caracas said

Maduro orders diplomats out of US 

President Maduro has ordered all Venezuelan diplomats home from the US and is closing its embassy.  

Maduro said that if US officials had any sense they would pull out their own diplomats from Caracas rather than defying his order to leave.

The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors in nearly a decade, but they have maintained diplomatic staff.

Death toll reaches 26: NGO

Twenty-six people have been killed since the latest wave of protests against Nicolas Maduro broke out four days ago, the Caracas-based Observatory of Social Conflict said on Thursday.

The previous toll from the protests – which began when a group of soldiers took over a command post in the north of the capital in defiance of the socialist regime – had stood at 16.

In some places, armed forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue protesters, some of whom threw stones.

Demonstrators clash with police during a protests [File:Manaure Quintero/Reuters] 

Venezuelan embassy in Turkey calls for solidarity

The Venezuelan Embassy in Turkey on Thursday urged solitary from the people of Turkey. 

“We expect solidarity from the Turkish people,” the embassy said in a statement, Anadolou Agency reported.

“We strongly condemn the fascist attacks attempting to undermine the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro’s government,” the statement read.

Maduro accuses US of ‘leading major provocation’

“I had a phone call with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, with whom I spoke for about 20 minutes, President Putin always expressing his solidarity with Venezuela,” President Maduro said.

“The US is leading a major provocation against Venezuela,” he explained.

“I believe that in the world there is no doubt that it is Donald Trump himself who wishes to impose a defacto… government.. in Venezuela, against the people and against democracy.”

“Donald Trump with his insanity of thinking that he is the policeman of the world, believing that he is the one in charge of Latin American and the Caribbean, it’s a major provocation.”

“[But] I tell you President Putin , just as I told people yesterday… everyone to work, everything will work, and the country continues to go forward, and the government continues to govern,” he added. 

Venezuela’s Supreme Court members applauded and pledged their unwavering support for President  Maduro.

President Maduro gestures during a ceremony to mark the opening of the judicial year at the Supreme Court of Justice [Carlos Garcia/Reuters]

US requests UN Security Council meeting

The US has called for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, the US mission to the United Nations said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to attend the open meeting requested for Saturday, diplomats said.

US seeks to cut off revenues from Nicolas Maduro

The US is seeking to ensure that Venezuelan oil revenue goes to opposition leader Juan Guaido, and to cut off money from President Nicolas Maduro, national security advisor John Bolton said on Thursday.

The announcement signals that Washington is willing to go beyond traditional diplomatic measures and will seek to starve Maduro’s government of revenue as his administration is already struggling with unpaid bills and creditors demanding payment.

“What we’re focusing on today is disconnecting the illegitimate Maduro regime from the sources of his revenues,” Bolton told reporters at the White House.

But he said the process was “very complicated” and that officials were still studying how this would function.

‘What we’re focusing on today is disconnecting the illegitimate Maduro regime from the sources of his revenues,’ Bolton said [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

Mike Pompeo promises aid to Venezuela

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to recognise National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.

At a meeting in Washington, Pompeo said “the time for debate is done. The regime of former President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate.”

Pompeo also pledged $20m in humanitarian assistance to Venezuela and called on Venezuelan security forces to protect Guaido’s physical safety. 

Pope following situation in Venezuela 

The Vatican says Pope Francis is closely following developments in Venezuela and supports “all efforts that help save the population from further suffering”.

A statement from Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti on Thursday did not specify whether the Holy See recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to the interim presidency.

Francis is nearby on a visit to Panama for World Youth Day. 

Venezuela defence minister says Maduro is ‘legitimate president’

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Thursday that Nicolas Maduro was the country’s “legitimate president” and that the opposition was carrying out a coup after Juan Guaido, the leader of congress, declared himself president.

Padrino said the United States and other governments were carrying out an economic war against Venezuela, an OPEC nation with the world’s largest crude reserves.

UK says Guaido right person to take country forward

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself president on Wednesday, is the right person to take the country forward, Britain’s Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday.

“The United Kingdom believes Juan Guaido is the right person to take Venezuela forward. We are supporting the US, Canada, Brazil and Argentina to make that happen,” he told media during a visit to Washington.

Hunt added that Britain did not regard Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader following elections on May 20 last year that Britain said had been “deeply flawed”. 

US asks to brief UN Security Council on Venezuela: envoy

US Secretary of State Pompeo has asked to brief the UN Security Council on Venezuela on Saturday, South Africa’s United Nations Ambassador Jerry Matjila told reporters on Thursday.

Erdogan says impossible for Turkey to approve developments in Venezuela

It is impossible for Turkey to approve of the developments in Venezuela, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, adding that he believed the people of Venezuela would continue to support President Nicolas Maduro

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Maltese counterpart in Ankara, Erdogan said he found US President Donald Trump’s comments on Venezuela shocking and added that democracies needed to respect election results.

At least 12 killed in latest violence: Monitoring group

A Venezuelan monitoring group says at least a dozen people have been killed by gunfire in a wave of anti-government unrest rocking Venezuela.

Coordinator Marco Ponce with the non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict gave the death toll and names of those reported dead to the Associated Press on Thursday.

Seven deaths had been reported earlier.

For a third consecutive night, there were reports of looting in poor neighbourhoods in Caracas and clashes between protesters and state security forces

Military commanders take to airwaves to vow loyalty to Maduro 

Military commanders across Venezuela are taking to the airwaves to vow loyalty to embattled President Nicolas Maduro.

Major General Victor Palacio said Thursday he categorically rejected any acts threatening stability in Venezuela.

Palacio is one of several generals who have been appearing on state TV, standing before dozens of soldiers in a show of military support.

Major General Manuel Gregorio Bernal also backed Maduro, saying the president represents an independent country in the face of imperialist aggression.

UN chief calls for dialogue to avoid violence 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for dialogue in Venezuela, saying violence or escalation should be avoided in Venezuela. 

“It is absolutely essential to have dialogue to avoid violence and avoid escalation,” Guterres said without elaborating. 

Venezuelan lawyers seek protection for Guaido 

Three Venezuelan lawyers are asking the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to grant precautionary measures to protect Guaido and his family. 

The document, filed only hours after Guaido declared himself an interim president of the country, states that the request does not equal to a recognition of the legitimacy of the Maduro administration.

Mexico urges two sides to hold talks 

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Thursday urged Maduro and Guaido to hold talks to avoid escalating violence in Venezuela. 

World powers denounce US interference

Turkey, Russia, and  China  have come to the defence of Venezuala’s embattled leader. 

“As a country that believes in democracy … wherever in the world there is a coup attempt, we stand against them all without distinction. Everyone has to respect the result of the ballot boxes,” Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.  

China also denounced the foreign intervention into Venezuela’s domestic politics. 

“China always maintains the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, opposing external intervention in Venezuelan domestic affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Russia warned the US not to intervene militarily in Venezuela, saying its support for Guaido was a “path to lawlessness and bloodshed”.

Regional powers set to meet

On Thursday attention will shift to Washington where diplomats at the Organization of American States will hold an emergency meeting on the Venezuelan situation.

The debate promises to be charged, and the National Assembly’s newly picked diplomatic envoy will be lobbying to take Venezuela’s seat from Maduro’s ambassador.

Meanwhile, many Venezuelans will be looking for Guaido to re-emerge and provide guidance on the opposition’s next steps.

The armed forces’ top command is also expected to issue a statement, although nobody expects the generals’ loyalties to Maduro to have shifted.

“While it’s true that Guaido has been recognised internationally, the real power of the state is still in the hands of Nicolas Maduro,” said Ronal Rodriguez, a political science professor who focuses on Venezuela at Rosario University in Bogota.

Venezuela president denounces US ‘coup’ attempt

Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of orchestrating a coup d’etat while seeking to run Venezuela from Washington, DC. 

“Don’t trust the gringos,” he thundered to a crowd of red-shirted supporters gathered at the presidential palace. “They don’t have friends or loyalties. They only have interests … and the ambition to take Venezuela’s oil, gas and gold.” 

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said the armed forces did not recognise a self-proclaimed president “imposed by shadowy interests … outside the law”.

Wednesday, January 23

Lawyers ask for Guaido protection

Three Venezuelan lawyers ask the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to grant precautionary measures to protect Guaido, his wife and his daughter.

The request, shared with The Associated Press news agency by the lawyer Ignacio Alvarez, argues the measure is needed to safeguard the life, personal integrity and personal freedom of Guaido and his immediate family.

The document says the request does not equal to a recognition of the legitimacy of the Maduro government.

The human rights body of the Organization of American States has the authority to grant precautionary measures as a way to request states protection for persons at urgent and grave risk of suffering irreparable harm.

Mexico and Uruguay urge calm

Mexico and Uruguay call on all internal and external parties involved in Venezuela’s crisis to defuse tensions and prevent an escalation of violence.

Uruguay’s foreign ministry releases a statement saying the two countries are proposing a “new process of inclusive and credible negotiations with full respect for the rule of law and human rights” to resolve the dispute peacefully.

US: Maduro lacks authority to sever relations, expel diplomats

The US State Department says Maduro has no authority to cut diplomatic relations with Washington.

“The United States does not recognise the Maduro regime as the government of Venezuela,” it says in a statement.

“Accordingly the United States does not consider former president Nicolas Maduro to have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations with the United States or to declare our diplomats persona non grata.”

Erdogan expresses solidarity with Maduro

Following Washington’s move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses solidarity with Maduro.

“Maduro brother, stand tall, Turkey stands with you, Erdogan tells President Nicolas Maduro by telephone,”  Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin writes on Twitter.

Kalin also shares the #WeAreMADURO hashtag to show solidarity.

Venezuelan defence minister backs Maduro

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino says via Twitter on Wednesday that the country’s armed forces disavow any president who is self-proclaimed or imposed by “dark interests”. 

Padrino vows that the armed forces will defend Venezuela’s constitution and national sovereignty. 

Maduro urges military unity

Maduro urges the military to maintain unity and discipline.

“We will triumph over this as well, we will come out victorious,” Maduro tells supporters outside the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. 

Maduro severs US ties

Just hours after the US backed the opposition leader, Maduro declares he is breaking relations with the US and gives its diplomatic personnel 72 hours to leave Venezuela.

Contacts have already been severely limited in recent years.

Bolivia, Cuba back Maduro 

Bolivia’s leftist President Evo Morales affirms his long-standing alliance with Maduro, offering to stand by Venezuela’s side against what he often calls US meddling in South America’s affairs.

“Our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our brother Nicolas Maduro, in these decisive hours in which the claws of imperialism seek again to mortally wound the democracy and self-determination of the peoples of South America,” Morales says in a Twitter post

Mexico also says it recognises “the authorities elected in accordance with the Venezuelan constitution”, seen as a lukewarm nod to Maduro, while Cuba expresses its “firm support” for the Venezuelan president after what it called a “coup attempt”. 

Other countries follow US 

Guaido gains recognition from a slew of right-wing or right-leaning Latin American governments, including Venezuela’s neighbours Brazil and Colombia. Guatemala and Costa Rica also recognise the opposition leader. 

Canada says it intends to back Guaido. 

Guaido’s declaration takes Venezuela into uncharted territory, with the possibility of the opposition now running a parallel government recognised abroad as legitimate but without control over state functions.

US recognises Guaido

Shortly after Guaido swears himself in, Trump officially recognises him as president.

“In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country’s constitution to declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant,” Trump says.

Guaido claims interim presidency

At a rally that brought hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans into the east of the capital, Caracas, Guaido says Maduro usurped power. 

Guaido, 35, promises to create a transitional government that would help the country escape its hyperinflationary economic collapse.

“I swear to assume all the powers of the presidency to secure an end to the usurpation,” Guaido tells the crowd. 

Protesters gather for competing rallies 

Pro-opposition and pro-government supporters stage rallies across the country. 

Thousands of anti-government protesters participate in marches to demand Maduro’s resignation.

Venezuelan security forces fire tear gas at opposition demonstrators blocking a highway in Caracas.

Meanwhile, government supporters hold counterrallies for Maduro.

Tuesday, January 22

US Vice President Mike Pence backs opposition 

US Vice President Mike Pence backs the anti-government protests in a video posted on Twitter.

“On behalf of President Donald Trump and all the American people, let me express the unwavering support of the United States as you, the people of Venezuela, raise your voices in a call for freedom,” Pence says in the taped message.

“Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power. He has never won the presidency in a free and fair election, and has maintained his grip of power by imprisoning anyone who dares to oppose him.”

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accuses Pence of “openly calling for a coup”. 

“Yankee, go home,” she says, according to Telesur news service, which is partially backed by the Venezuelan government.

Opposition organises anti-Maduro rallies 

Protesters burn rubbish and clash with troops in dozens of Caracas neighbourhoods, Reuters news agency reports.

The Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, a body that monitors violence, says that a 16-year-old is killed overnight in the capital.

More protests are called for Wednesday.

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