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Venezuela military base attacked as video shows men in uniform claiming start of coup Venezuela military base attacked as video shows men in uniform claiming start of coup
(35 minutes later)
A video has emerged showing a group of men in military uniform saying they were launching an uprising against unpopular President Nicolas Maduro to restore democracy in Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities said they have suppressed a military rebellion near the central city of Valencia.
But Venezuelan authorities said they had suppressed a military rebellion near the central city of Valencia. The ruling Socialist Party's deputy, Diosdado Cabello, said there had been a "terrorist attack" at a military base shortly after a video emerged showing a group of men in military uniform saying they were launching an uprising against unpopular President Nicolas Maduro to restore democracy.
The ruling Socialist Party's deputy, Diosdado Cabello, said there had been a "terrorist attack" at a military base in Valencia and a witness reported hearing gunshots overnight. One witness in the area of the military base in the town of Naguanagua reported hearing gunshots before dawn, but Mr Cabello said the situation had been brought under control.
Mr Cabello said several arrests have been made. Troops acted quickly to control the situation at the Paramacay base in the central city of Venezuela, he said on Twitter.
Troops acted quickly to control the situation at the Paramacay base in the central city of Venezuela, Mr Cabello said on Twitter.
A witness in Valencia, roughly two hours from the capital of Caracas, told Reuters she heard shooting overnight.
Officials said the rebels, whom they described as "terrorists," were trying to steal weapons and that seven people were detained after the attack on the base.Officials said the rebels, whom they described as "terrorists," were trying to steal weapons and that seven people were detained after the attack on the base.
The announcement came after a small group of men dressed in military fatigues, some armed with assault rifles, released a video declaring themselves in rebellion in Carabobo state, where Valencia is located. The announcement came after a small group of men dressed in military fatigues, some armed with assault rifles, released a video declaring themselves in rebellion in Carabobo state, where Valencia is located. 
In the video, a man who identified himself as Juan Carlos Caguaripano, a former National Guard captain, said: "We demand the immediate formation of a transition government." He was flanked by about a dozen men in military uniforms. In the video, a man who identified himself as Juan Carlos Caguaripano, a former National Guard captain, said: "We demand the immediate formation of a transition government." He was flanked by about a dozen men in military uniforms.
"This is not a coup d'etat," he said. "This is a civic and military action to re-establish constitutional order. But more than that, it is to save the country from total destruction.""This is not a coup d'etat," he said. "This is a civic and military action to re-establish constitutional order. But more than that, it is to save the country from total destruction."
He said any unit refusing to go along with its call for rebellion would be declared a military target. He said any unit refusing to go along with its call for rebellion would be declared a military target.
Government allies were quick to denounce the attack as a right-wing plot aimed at bringing down the "Bolivarian revolution" started nearly 20 years ago by the late Hugo Chavez and carried on by his protege Mr Maduro.Government allies were quick to denounce the attack as a right-wing plot aimed at bringing down the "Bolivarian revolution" started nearly 20 years ago by the late Hugo Chavez and carried on by his protege Mr Maduro.
"These attacks, planned by delirious minds in Miami, only strengthen the morale of our armed forces and the Bolivarian people," tweeted Socialist Party official Elias Jaua."These attacks, planned by delirious minds in Miami, only strengthen the morale of our armed forces and the Bolivarian people," tweeted Socialist Party official Elias Jaua.
The South American nation has for months been in the throes of a political crisis with protests that have left more than 100 dead, nearly 2,000 wounded and over 500 detained. The South American nation has for months been in the throes of a political crisis with protests that have left more than 100 dead, nearly 2,000 wounded and over 500 detained. 
Last week, two opposition leaders were taken from their homes in the middle of the night by intelligence agents and hauled to prison.Last week, two opposition leaders were taken from their homes in the middle of the night by intelligence agents and hauled to prison.
It came days after the country's president formed a legislative superbody internationally condemned as a power grab.It came days after the country's president formed a legislative superbody internationally condemned as a power grab.
On Saturday, Mr Maduro's new "constituent assembly" removed the chief prosecutor from her post and ordered her to stand trial, confirming opposition fears that it would use its powers to root out critics of the government.On Saturday, Mr Maduro's new "constituent assembly" removed the chief prosecutor from her post and ordered her to stand trial, confirming opposition fears that it would use its powers to root out critics of the government.