Venezuela crisis: Border clashes as aid row intensifies Published duration 22 February 2019 Related Topics Venezuela crisis

image copyright Reuters image caption President Nicolás Maduro has closed Venezuela's border with Brazil

At least two people have been killed and several others injured in clashes near Venezuela's border with Brazil, local media report.

Venezuelan security forces opened fire on a group of civilians who tried to prevent them from blocking the border.

President Nicolás Maduro has closed the country's border with Brazil amid a row over the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The incident came as thousands attended two rival concerts on either side of a bridge linking Venezuela and Colombia.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself interim leader last month, attended the Colombian concert along with several Latin American leaders.

The clashes occurred when members of the community confronted Venezuelan troops on Friday morning in the southern Venezuelan town of Kumarakapay, AFP news agency reports.

Troops then opened fire on individuals who tried to block a road with the aim of preventing military vehicles from passing, witnesses said.

image copyright Reuters image caption An ambulance at the scene where deadly clashes erupted in southern Venezuela

Why are there clashes at the border?

Venezuela is in the grip of a political and economic crisis. The country's inflation rate has seen prices soar, leaving many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items such as food, toiletries and medicine.

Around 2.7 million people have fled the country since 2015.

Mr Guaidó says a lack of basic items has left thousands of others at risk of dying.

Humanitarian aid for Venezuela has been arriving at the borders of neighbouring Colombia and Brazil.

media caption Venezuelan lawmakers clashed with soldiers on Thursday

Mr Guaidó and his allies hope to collect the relief gathered there on Saturday, in defiance of President Maduro, who denies any crisis and calls the aid plans a US-orchestrated show.

President Maduro has said he could also shut the border with Colombia to stop the opposition bringing in aid.

Why are the concerts taking place?

The concerts, being held just 300m (980ft) apart, represent two opposing sides of a power struggle between President Maduro and Mr Guaidó, who is recognised as the country's interim leader by dozens of countries, including the US and most Latin American nations.

image copyright AFP image caption Thousands gathered for the Venezuela Aid Live concert near the Colombian city of Cúcuta

One of the concerts, Venezuela Aid Live, was organised by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, who said Mr Guaidó had asked him to set it up.

It was held near the Tienditas bridge crossing on the Colombian side of the border at Cúcuta. Organisers invited 32 artists including Latin stars Rudy Mancuso, Juanes and Despacito singer Luis Fonsi, and Swedish DJ Alesso.

A few celebrities - including Venezuelan-American singer and actress Lele Pons and Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean - and politicians took part.

Among them were the presidents of Colombia, Chile and Paraguay, along with Mr Guaidó who defied a travel ban by President Maduro.

image copyright AFP image caption Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, Colombian President Ivan Duque, Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido and Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez all attended the Venezuela Live Aid concert.

"This concert is a humanitarian concert; every country, all people in the world want freedom," Mr Branson said.

"Anybody that does anything for the right reasons is always going to get criticism. The positive thing is that 99% of people around the world are embracing what is going on here today."

YouTube, Bing and Google services were all temporarily blocked in Venezuela during the Live Aid concert, according to Netblocks - a non-governmental organization that tracks internet blackouts.

Following news of the event, President Maduro promised to hold a rival concert on the Venezuelan side of the bridge - a three-day festival which has been dubbed Hands Off Venezuela.

The government still has not announced an official line-up for Hands Off Venezuela, but unconfirmed reports claim that about 150 artists are taking part.

image copyright EPA image caption Richard Branson's concert is happening on the Colombian side of the border

image copyright EPA image caption While Mr Maduro's is happening not far away on the Venezuelan side

What's going on at Venezuela's borders?

Brazil, which recognizes Mr Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader, had previously vowed to make humanitarian aid available in the Brazilian city of Pacaraima, to be collected by opposition supporters.

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There are already planes and lorries carrying tonnes of US aid parked on the Colombian side of the Tienditas bridge, and President Maduro has refused to allow it into Venezuela, saying it is part of a ploy by the US to invade the country.

Despite denying that there is a humanitarian crisis at all, President Maduro reportedly received a shipment of aid from Russia earlier this week, according to Russian state media.

Moscow has accused Washington of using aid as a "convenient pretext for conducting military action."

According to RIA Novosti, Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters that "in preparation for the provocation", America was deploying "special forces and equipment near Venezuelan territory."

So how will the aid get in?

It is not yet clear. Mr Guaidó has said he plans to get aid into the country on Saturday by urging Venezuelans to mobilise en masse and form "caravans" and a "humanitarian avalanche" at the borders.

But even with this effort, it is uncertain whether or not aid will be allowed in.