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Venezuela opposition 'has met military', says Juan Guaidó Venezuela opposition 'has met military', says Juan Guaidó
(about 1 hour later)
Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting President Nicolás Maduro.Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting President Nicolás Maduro.
Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president earlier this month and was immediately recognised by the US and several Latin American countries.Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president earlier this month and was immediately recognised by the US and several Latin American countries.
Major powers Russia and China back Mr Maduro and military support is seen as crucial to his hold on power.Major powers Russia and China back Mr Maduro and military support is seen as crucial to his hold on power.
The crisis comes as Mr Maduro began a second term after controversial polls.The crisis comes as Mr Maduro began a second term after controversial polls.
Many opposition candidates were barred from running or jailed.Many opposition candidates were barred from running or jailed.
About three million people have fled Venezuela amid acute economic problems, and there has been an upsurge in violence in recent weeks.About three million people have fled Venezuela amid acute economic problems, and there has been an upsurge in violence in recent weeks.
US President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday that he had spoken to Mr Guaidó and supported his "historic assumption of the presidency", writing in a second tweet that "The fight for freedom has begun!"US President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday that he had spoken to Mr Guaidó and supported his "historic assumption of the presidency", writing in a second tweet that "The fight for freedom has begun!"
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt meanwhile is expected to urge EU nations to impose sanctions on key figures in Mr Maduro's government on Thursday, after also speaking to Mr Guaidó on Wednesday.UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt meanwhile is expected to urge EU nations to impose sanctions on key figures in Mr Maduro's government on Thursday, after also speaking to Mr Guaidó on Wednesday.
What did Mr Guaidó say?What did Mr Guaidó say?
"We have had clandestine meetings with members of the armed forces and the security forces," Mr Guaidó writes in an article in the New York Times."We have had clandestine meetings with members of the armed forces and the security forces," Mr Guaidó writes in an article in the New York Times.
"The military's withdrawal of support from Mr Maduro is crucial to enabling a change in government, and the majority of those in service agree that the country's recent travails are untenable.""The military's withdrawal of support from Mr Maduro is crucial to enabling a change in government, and the majority of those in service agree that the country's recent travails are untenable."
The article also says the opposition has offered an amnesty to armed forces "found not guilty of crimes against humanity".The article also says the opposition has offered an amnesty to armed forces "found not guilty of crimes against humanity".
However Mr Guaidó did not say who in the military he had been speaking with or what their positions were.However Mr Guaidó did not say who in the military he had been speaking with or what their positions were.
Venezuela's top military representative to the US Col José Luis Silva has defected - but senior military figures in Venezuela have supported Mr Maduro.Venezuela's top military representative to the US Col José Luis Silva has defected - but senior military figures in Venezuela have supported Mr Maduro.
As head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Mr Guaidó says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate.As head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Mr Guaidó says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate.
Venezuela's Supreme Court has banned the opposition leader from leaving the country, however, and frozen his bank accounts.Venezuela's Supreme Court has banned the opposition leader from leaving the country, however, and frozen his bank accounts.
Mr Guaidó's piece comes the same day as fresh protests began against Mr Maduro.
Venezuela's president earlier told Russian news agency RIA he was prepared to hold talks with the opposition "so that we could talk for the good of Venezuela".Venezuela's president earlier told Russian news agency RIA he was prepared to hold talks with the opposition "so that we could talk for the good of Venezuela".
He added that he was not prepared to accept ultimatums or blackmail, and insisted that he has the backing of Venezuela's military, accusing deserters of conspiring to plot a coup.He added that he was not prepared to accept ultimatums or blackmail, and insisted that he has the backing of Venezuela's military, accusing deserters of conspiring to plot a coup.
The armed forces have played a key role in supporting his government, with many officers holding posts as ministers or other influential positions.The armed forces have played a key role in supporting his government, with many officers holding posts as ministers or other influential positions.
Analysts say some members of the military may also be reluctant to switch sides for fear being held to account for alleged corruption and rights violations despite the offer of amnesty.Analysts say some members of the military may also be reluctant to switch sides for fear being held to account for alleged corruption and rights violations despite the offer of amnesty.
What's the reaction to the crisis? What else has been happening?
Mr Guaidó's piece was published as fresh protests began against Mr Maduro.
The BBC's Guillermo Olmo in Caracas says Wednesday's protests were modest in size, in line with opposition calls for small-scale actions, but that the protest movement is growing in poorer areas once seen as government strongholds.
Meanwhile, a Russian airliner that made a surprise landing in Caracas on Monday has departed the country. National Assembly member and former central bank economist Jose Guerra said central bank officials had told him the plane had come to collect 20 tonnes of gold from the country's central bank.
However on Wednesday Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of any such plans.
US National Security Adviser John Bolton warned businesses not to deal in "gold, oil, or other Venezuelan commodities" stolen from the people by "the Maduro mafia".
In other developments:
What's the international reaction?
The US and more than 20 other nations have backed Mr Guaidó.The US and more than 20 other nations have backed Mr Guaidó.
On Monday, the US imposed curbs on the country's state-owned oil firm PDVSA.On Monday, the US imposed curbs on the country's state-owned oil firm PDVSA.
US National Security Adviser John Bolton spoke to businesses via Twitter on Wednesday, telling them not to deal in "gold, oil, or other Venezuelan commodities" stolen from the people by "the Maduro mafia".
It follows allegations made by a National Assembly member that a Russian Boeing 777 that made a surprise landing in Caracas on Monday had come to take away 20 tons of gold from the reserves of Venezuela's central bank.
Jose Guerra, a former central bank economist, said bank officials had given him this information but did not provide evidence. On Wednesday Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of any such plans.
Mr Maduro has the backing of Russia, China, and Turkey.Mr Maduro has the backing of Russia, China, and Turkey.
Russian officials have denied reports that mercenaries from the country have been sent to protect his life.Russian officials have denied reports that mercenaries from the country have been sent to protect his life.
Mexico and Uruguay meanwhile have announced plans for a conference of "neutral" countries on 7 February in Uruguay's capital Montevideo, to discuss the crisis.Mexico and Uruguay meanwhile have announced plans for a conference of "neutral" countries on 7 February in Uruguay's capital Montevideo, to discuss the crisis.
Diplomatic pressure grows
By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent
European leaders have already warned that if Mr Maduro does not announce fresh elections by Sunday, then they will join the United States and others in formally recognising the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as interim president.
On Thursday, at a meeting in Romania, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will urge his EU counterparts to go further, and consider imposing sanctions on key figures within the government.
That would not be easy, requiring unanimous EU support, but the foreign secretary believes it should be considered.
The EU has an existing sanctions regime against 18 Venezuelans accused of human rights abuses and this list could be extended.
Mr Guaido, who spoke to Mr Hunt on Wednesday, is understood to be urging the EU to take a tougher action against the government in Caracas.
US officials have previously stated that all options "are on the table" to resolve the crisis in Venezuela, which observers have taken to include possible military action.US officials have previously stated that all options "are on the table" to resolve the crisis in Venezuela, which observers have taken to include possible military action.
Mr Bolton also appeared at a news briefing with a notepad showing the words "5,000 troops to Colombia", which borders Venezuela.Mr Bolton also appeared at a news briefing with a notepad showing the words "5,000 troops to Colombia", which borders Venezuela.
The Lima Group - a 14-country body including Canada set up in 2017 to find a peaceful solution to the crisis - has opposed any military intervention in the country.The Lima Group - a 14-country body including Canada set up in 2017 to find a peaceful solution to the crisis - has opposed any military intervention in the country.