President announces expulsion of three US consular officials and clampdown on protest called by Leopoldo Lopez

After four days out of the public eye, Venezuela’s opposition hardliner Leopoldo Lopez has appeared in a video asking his compatriots to join him in a march on Tuesday to demand a halt to the crackdown that followed Wednesday’s deadly protests.



After the circulation of Lopez’s message, President Nicolas Maduro took to the airwaves to denounce US interference in Venezuelan sovereignty while vowing to apply the full weight of law to Lopez and his upcoming protest. He also said he had ordered the explusion of three US consular officials who, he said, had been conspiring against his government.

In a pre-recorded message, Lopez said he would demand that the interior minister acknowledge the state’s responsibility for Wednesday’s deaths. The former mayor of the Chacao municipality of Caracas also said he would present himself to authorities that have issued an order for his arrest.

“I will present myself. I have nothing to fear. I have committed no crime. I have been a Venezuelan with deep commitments towards my country and my people”, said Lopez in a three-minute video that circulated widely trough social media networks.

The government issued a warrant for Lopez’s arrest on Thursday following nationwide demonstrations that left three dead after opposition protesters clashed with security forces.

President Nicolas Maduro has blamed Lopez for leading a coup against his government with the aid of the US . The charges against him range from acts of vandalism to terrorism.

In an indistinct room, with a blurred painting in the background, the US-educated politician pledged to continue street actions alongside the Venezuelan people, while acknowledging he faces the risk of being jailed.

Late on Saturday night, Lopez’s home and that of his parents were raided by security forces in search of the head of Voluntad Popular, a small breakaway opposition party that gained significant ground in the December regional elections.

In his broadcast Maduro denounced the US and Lopez, and said the unidentified consular officials had been part of a conspiracy against his administration.

“It’s a group of US functionaries who are in the universities,” Maduro said. “We’ve been watching them having meetings in the private universities for two months. They say they go there to offer visas.

“Let them go conspire in Washington,” he said.

Maduro said US government officials had warned him that Lopez’s arrest could have “very negative consequences” and exhorted all legal actions against Lopez to be dropped.

“I accept no threats from anyone in this world”, Maduro said. “There will be no force that will detain us in our pursuit of justice and in our fight against fascism … We are willing to go to the last consequences in our defence of peace and sovereignty.”

Referring to Lopez as a fascist, Maduro warned that he was behind Nazi-like plans that could embroil Venezuela in further civil strife.

“I will have zero tolerance towards fascism. Even the possibility of living in peace among ourselves for the next century is at stake here”, Maduro said. “This is the last time fascists come to Caracas. Rain or shine, fascists will not enter Caracas,” he said. “I have just declared Caracas a fascist-free territory.”

For five consecutive days students have defied a ban on street protests and have gathered in cities across the country to demand justice over the deaths during Wednesday’s march and the subsequent imprisonment of students. Protests in Caracas have escalated into more violence with students burning tyres to block freeways. The government has used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse many of these.

It is unclear whether Lopez can count on the support of opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, and others in the MUD coalition. Capriles has pledged his commitment to peaceful demonstrations and has taken a vehement stance against streets actions that may end up in violence.