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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro | Photo: Reuters |
According to the Bolivarian leader, the U.S. government wrote up a coup scenario for opposition leader Julio Borges.
A day before
opposition leaders convened more protests in Caracas calling for the
ouster of Venezuela's government, the country's leader has accused the
United States of working with right-wing leaders towards a coup.
"The U.S. government, the State Department has given the green light,
the approval for a coup process to intervene in Venezuela," President
Nicolas Maduro said, speaking from the Miraflores Palace.
Maduro said that
security forces had arrested an “armed commando group sent by the
opposition in order to attack the mobilization called by the right-wing
for Wednesday to generate violence and deaths in the country.” An
investigation has been opened to determine who is behind the plan.
According to the
Venezuelan leader, who also pointed to a U.S. State Department statement
issued Tuesday evening warning of an "international response" should
"peaceful protests" face repression, the U.S. government wrote up a coup
scenario for opposition leader Julio Borges.
The “scenario” Maduro referred to consists in generating violence and
deaths before blaming the Venezuelan government for allegedly violently
attacking political opponents. Then the plot leaders would demand
immediate elections, ahead of Maduro's official end of term in 2019.
“No more coups in Venezuela, no more plots,” said Maduro, adding that he activated a public security plan to maintain order.
The Venezuelan leader also called on government supporters to take
the streets in the defense of the 18-year Bolivarian Revolution, which
has seen an unprecedented internal and external attack in recent months.
The demonstrations
come after weeks of opposition-led anti-government demonstrations
calling for the ouster of the country's Supreme Court judges as well as
President Nicolas Maduro. According to reports, among those killed in
the ensuing violence include a 13-year-old boy who was shot Wednesday
when opposition protesters entered a social housing complex and an
83-year-old woman who was not able to receive medical attention due to
opposition roadblocks.
Opposition protesters
have vandalized various areas in Caracas in recent days causing
economic damage estimated at around 50 billion bolivars, President
Maduro announced Sunday. A high school, a community health center,
various subsidized food markets and several government ministries have
also reportedly been severely affected.
The opposition MUD
alliance has called for a "Mega March" protest in Caracas on Wednesday
and estimate a large turnout with promotions flooding social media.
Officials fear that there could be violence should they attempt to
redirect marches to areas where pro-government demonstrators will be
gathered.
Source: TeleSur |