Venezuela crisis: Guaidó calls for more protests as Maduro defiant Published duration 1 May 2019 Related Topics Venezuela crisis

media caption Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is appealing to the military for support

Juan Guaidó has appealed for his supporters to take to the streets of Venezuela again on Wednesday, after a day of violent clashes on Tuesday.

President Nicolás Maduro, whom the opposition leader is trying to unseat, remains defiant despite the protests.

In a television address he described Mr Guaidó's supporters as a "small group" whose plan had failed.

Meanwhile, the US administration alleges Mr Maduro had been ready to travel to Cuba to escape the unrest.

"They had an airplane on the tarmac. He was ready to leave this morning [Tuesday], as we understand it. Russians indicated he should stay," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN, without offering evidence.

Senior US officials also claimed three prominent figures in Mr Maduro's government had agreed the president had to go, but later backtracked.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton said those figures allegedly included Defence Secretary Vladimir Padrino - who has since reaffirmed his support and appeared alongside Mr Maduro in his televised address.

Sitting alongside military commanders, Mr Maduro vowed he would be victorious in the face of what he called a coup attempt backed by US imperialism.

He also said events of Tuesday would "not go unpunished".

"[Prosecutors] will launch criminal prosecutions for the serious crimes that have been committed against the constitution, the rule of law and the right to peace," he said in his speech.

media caption Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro defiant in speech

Meanwhile, Mr Guaidó has renewed his calls for Venezuelans to take to the streets to complete what he has said is the "final phase" of his effort to oust Mr Maduro.

What happened on Tuesday?

A three-minute video by Mr Guaidó was published in the early hours of Tuesday.

It showed him standing alongside a number of men in military uniform, as he announced he had the support of "brave soldiers" in Caracas.

"The National Armed Forces have taken the correct decision... they are guaranteed to be on the right side of history," he said.

He urged Venezuelans to join them in the streets, and also appeared alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who had been under house arrest since 2014.

Supporters on both sides then gathered in different places in the capital, Caracas, throughout Tuesday.

Despite Mr Guaidó's calls, it appeared most of the military stayed on the side of Mr Maduro during the clashes.

media caption "This is unstoppable," says Carlos Vecchio, Juan Guaido's envoy to the US

There were running clashes between Mr Guaidó's supporters and armed military vehicles throughout the day.

Protesters were also seen throwing rocks, but being repelled by tear gas and water cannon. At one stage a military vehicle was captured on video appearing to drive into protesters.

Mr Guaidó, the president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, has been calling on Venezuela's military to back him ever since he declared himself interim president in January.

He argues that President Maduro is a "usurper" because he was re-elected in polls that had been widely disputed.

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Tuesday marked the most violent episode of the Venezuelan political crisis this year. Venezuelan heath officials said 69 people were injured in the clashes, including two with bullet wounds.

Broadcasts from a number of news agencies, including the BBC and CNN, were apparently suspended amid the violence.

Later on Tuesday, it emerged Mr López had sought safety in the Chilean, then the Spanish embassy, along with his family.

Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said it was Mr López's "personal decision", because he and his wife Lilian Tintori are of Spanish descent.

image copyright AFP

A failure or more to come?

Tuesday's events were definitely dramatic. But it's not clear where they leave Venezuela.

Juan Guaidó made a bold move by saying the armed forces were on his side early in the morning. And the fact that opposition politician Leopoldo López, who was under house arrest, stood beside him was also a big surprise. Who had freed him and what did that say about the loyalties of the armed forces?

But as the day went on, doubts began to surface - who exactly was backing the so-called uprising? We still don't have the answers.

Mr Guaidó's video on Tuesday night, calling for people to come out onto the streets again on Wednesday, was a motivational pep talk that felt hollow. He claims Mr Maduro has neither the support nor the respect of the armed forces, yet clearly the generals at the top - whose support Mr Guaidó needs - aren't on the opposition's side either.

This is seen by many as another failed attempt by the opposition to take power.

Yet, although Mr Maduro still occupies the presidential palace, his future isn't secure either - he summed up the day as "intense" in a lengthy address on state television but there's no question both sides will be feeling the heat after Tuesday.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now issued an emergency prohibition against all US carriers flying below 26,000ft in Venezuelan airspace.

It also said all US operators should leave the country within 48 hours, due to increasing political instability.

How has the international community reacted?

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appealed for both sides to avoid violence.

The United States, who has backed Mr Guaidó since he declared himself interim leader, reiterated their support on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said he was monitoring events in Venezuela "very closely" and said the US stood with the Venezuelan people and their freedom.

He also threatened to implement the "highest-level sanctions" and a "full and complete embargo" against the island of Cuba, unless their military immediately ceased its support of Mr Maduro.

"Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers will promptly and peacefully return to their island!" he tweeted.

image copyright EPA image caption John Bolton has called on Venezuelan officials to "do what is right" for he country

Other governments who still support Mr Maduro, including Bolivia and Cuba, condemned Mr Guaidó's efforts as an attempted "coup d'etat".

The Mexican government expressed "concern about a possible increase in violence" in Venezuela, while Colombian President Ivan Duque urged the Venezuelan military to stand "on the right side of history" against Maduro.

An emergency meeting of the Lima Group of Latin American countries has been scheduled for Friday.