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Venezuela crisis: Rival protests held in Caracas | Venezuela crisis: Rival protests held in Caracas |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas in support of President Nicolás Maduro - and his self-proclaimed interim successor Juan Guaidó. | Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas in support of President Nicolás Maduro - and his self-proclaimed interim successor Juan Guaidó. |
Mr Guaidó said the country's opposition movement would "carry on in the streets". Mr Maduro told supporters he was the only president of Venezuela. | Mr Guaidó said the country's opposition movement would "carry on in the streets". Mr Maduro told supporters he was the only president of Venezuela. |
Mr Guaidó declared himself president last month and is backed by the US and several Latin American countries. | Mr Guaidó declared himself president last month and is backed by the US and several Latin American countries. |
Russia and China back President Maduro. | Russia and China back President Maduro. |
The stand-off began days after Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term, following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting it. | The stand-off began days after Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term, following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting it. |
Mr Guaidó, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. | Mr Guaidó, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. |
What's the latest? | What's the latest? |
Addressing thousands of supporters in the capital Caracas, Mr Guaidó said protests would continue until his supporters achieved "freedom". | Addressing thousands of supporters in the capital Caracas, Mr Guaidó said protests would continue until his supporters achieved "freedom". |
But a large pro-Maduro crowd gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of his predecessor, the socialist leader Hugo Chávez. Mr Maduro accused international media of "making invisible" [not showing] demonstrations by pro-government supporters. | But a large pro-Maduro crowd gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of his predecessor, the socialist leader Hugo Chávez. Mr Maduro accused international media of "making invisible" [not showing] demonstrations by pro-government supporters. |
The rival protests come a day ahead of a deadline given to Mr Maduro by major European countries to announce new presidential elections - otherwise they would also recognise Mr Guaidó. | The rival protests come a day ahead of a deadline given to Mr Maduro by major European countries to announce new presidential elections - otherwise they would also recognise Mr Guaidó. |
Military support is seen as crucial to Mr Maduro's hold on power. Many supporters at Saturday's rally were seen wearing the khaki uniforms of the government militia. | Military support is seen as crucial to Mr Maduro's hold on power. Many supporters at Saturday's rally were seen wearing the khaki uniforms of the government militia. |
Ahead of the protests, a high-ranking Air Force general announced his support for Mr Guaidó in a video message posted online. | Ahead of the protests, a high-ranking Air Force general announced his support for Mr Guaidó in a video message posted online. |
Gen Francisco Yanez, the force's head of strategic planning. It is not clear when or where the message was recorded. | |
In response, the Air Force's high command accused him of treason. | In response, the Air Force's high command accused him of treason. |
The US National Security Advisor John Bolton called on the rest of the country's military to join him in defection. | |
Mr Guaidó, meanwhile, says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting Mr Maduro. | Mr Guaidó, meanwhile, says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting Mr Maduro. |
He has also reached out to China in the hope of improving relations with the country. | He has also reached out to China in the hope of improving relations with the country. |
In comments published in the South China Morning Post on Saturday, Mr Guaidó said he wanted a "productive and mutually beneficial" relationship with China, adding that he was ready to engage in dialogue "as soon as possible". | In comments published in the South China Morning Post on Saturday, Mr Guaidó said he wanted a "productive and mutually beneficial" relationship with China, adding that he was ready to engage in dialogue "as soon as possible". |
'I have hope again' | 'I have hope again' |
Analysis by James Reynolds, BBC News, Caracas | Analysis by James Reynolds, BBC News, Caracas |
For the first time in years, Venezuela's opposition feels optimistic. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the centre of the capital. They want to find a way of bringing about fall of the government they detest. Many have spent years living with shortages. | For the first time in years, Venezuela's opposition feels optimistic. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the centre of the capital. They want to find a way of bringing about fall of the government they detest. Many have spent years living with shortages. |
"I'm 17 and I've only ever seen this government," one protester told me. "I don't want to live under it any more. I'm tired of this." | "I'm 17 and I've only ever seen this government," one protester told me. "I don't want to live under it any more. I'm tired of this." |
Francia, a school teacher, told me that her mother had died because of a lack of medicine. "I have hope again," she said. | Francia, a school teacher, told me that her mother had died because of a lack of medicine. "I have hope again," she said. |
"We were hopeless a month ago. We believe this is the real change. I've been fighting for almost 20 years. Nobody believed us. Now they do - and we do, too." | "We were hopeless a month ago. We believe this is the real change. I've been fighting for almost 20 years. Nobody believed us. Now they do - and we do, too." |
What did Mr Guaidó say on Saturday? | What did Mr Guaidó say on Saturday? |
"We are going to carry on in the streets until we achieve freedom and the end of the usurpation [of Maduro]," he told cheering crowds. | "We are going to carry on in the streets until we achieve freedom and the end of the usurpation [of Maduro]," he told cheering crowds. |
He reiterated an appeal to the "civil and military officials" of Mr Maduro's administration to back him. "Soldier of the nation... you have a role in the recovery of Venezuela," he said. | He reiterated an appeal to the "civil and military officials" of Mr Maduro's administration to back him. "Soldier of the nation... you have a role in the recovery of Venezuela," he said. |
Mr Guaidó announced that the opposition would start gathering humanitarian aid from Colombia and Brazil and urged the military to let it into the country. | Mr Guaidó announced that the opposition would start gathering humanitarian aid from Colombia and Brazil and urged the military to let it into the country. |
Between 250,000 and 300,000 Venezuelans were "in danger" of dying due to food and medicine shortages, he added. | |
What about Mr Maduro's position? | What about Mr Maduro's position? |
In a speech carried live by Venezuelan state TV, President Maduro insisted that his his left-wing revolutionary government would continue in power. | In a speech carried live by Venezuelan state TV, President Maduro insisted that his his left-wing revolutionary government would continue in power. |
"I am the sovereign president of all Venezuela," he said, adding he retained the support of the military, who were "more loyal than ever" and calling on the opposition to give up a "failed" attempt to seize power. | "I am the sovereign president of all Venezuela," he said, adding he retained the support of the military, who were "more loyal than ever" and calling on the opposition to give up a "failed" attempt to seize power. |
"Stop calling for war, stop supporting a coup that has already failed," Maduro said. | "Stop calling for war, stop supporting a coup that has already failed," Maduro said. |
Where do other countries stand? | Where do other countries stand? |
More than 20 countries, including the US, have recognised Mr Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president. | More than 20 countries, including the US, have recognised Mr Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president. |
Russia, China and Turkey are among those who have publicly backed President Maduro. | Russia, China and Turkey are among those who have publicly backed President Maduro. |
Last week, several European countries including Spain, Germany, France and the UK said they would also recognise Mr Guaidó as president if elections were not called within eight days. | Last week, several European countries including Spain, Germany, France and the UK said they would also recognise Mr Guaidó as president if elections were not called within eight days. |