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Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims coup has been 'defeated' – live updates Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims coup has been 'defeated' – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Now that Maduro and Guaidó have had their say, it might be useful to catch up with what we know so far about what appears to be some sort of uprising in Venezuela.
President Nicolas Maduro has addressed the Venezuelan people for the first time since the rebellion led by Juan Guaidó began on Tuesday morning. Speaking at around 9pm local time on Tuesday, Maduro claimed the “coup” has been defeated and that the perpetrators were being “interrogated”.
Guaidó released a video message about half an hour earlier in which he called on people to “hit the streets” for a mass demonstration against the Maduro regime on Wednesday.
He called the uprising he triggered on Tuesday morning a “peaceful rebellion” and denied it was a coup attempt. He said the “final phase” of the collapse of the Maduro regime had begun.
His call to arms after being filmed flanked by armed men in uniform led to violent street clashes. But the military appeared to remain mostly loyal to Maduro.
In his address, Maduro was flanked by defence minister Vladimir Padrino, appearing to contradict earlier claims by US national security chief John Bolton that key figures from the Maduro government were about to defect.
In an almost hour-long speech, Maduro also denied US claims that he planned to flee to Cuba but was persuaded to remain in Venezuela by his main overseas backer, Russia.
The president also claimed that some perpetrators had fled to the Brazilian embassy in Caracas. There was no indication in Guaidó’s video about his whereabouts.
Maduro, who has now finished his speech, says some of the military officials involved in the rebellion had fled to the Brazilian embassy in Caracas.
He also denied the claim by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo earlier that he had been preparing to flee to Cuba until the Russians, who have given Maduro their full backing, said he should not leave the country.
Maduro denies @SecPompeo claim he was preparing to flee to Cuba until Russia said no. “Señor Pompeo, please!”
John Bolton’s claim earlier that key figures from the regime, including defence minister Vladimir Padrino, were about to defect seemed to be contradicted tonight when Padrino appeared alongside Maduro when he made his speech.John Bolton’s claim earlier that key figures from the regime, including defence minister Vladimir Padrino, were about to defect seemed to be contradicted tonight when Padrino appeared alongside Maduro when he made his speech.
In case you missed the earlier post, Bolton said three senior Maduro aides had committed to establishing a peaceful transfer of power to the opposition. Along with Padrino, supreme court chief judge Maikel Moreno and presidential guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala as havning been involved in those conversations.In case you missed the earlier post, Bolton said three senior Maduro aides had committed to establishing a peaceful transfer of power to the opposition. Along with Padrino, supreme court chief judge Maikel Moreno and presidential guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala as havning been involved in those conversations.
The ultra-hawkish Bolton warned Maduro his “time is up”.The ultra-hawkish Bolton warned Maduro his “time is up”.
Tom is still tweeting highlights from Maduro’s address.Tom is still tweeting highlights from Maduro’s address.
The president has accused the plotters of trying to spark an armed confrontation between Venezuelans that could be used to justify foreign intervention “so the empire could get its claws into Venezuela”. (For empire read the “Yankee imperialists”, of course)The president has accused the plotters of trying to spark an armed confrontation between Venezuelans that could be used to justify foreign intervention “so the empire could get its claws into Venezuela”. (For empire read the “Yankee imperialists”, of course)
Maduro also claimed that by noon on Tuesday 80% of troops involved in the mutiny attempt had abandoned Guaidó. Only a small group of about 20 was left having “handed over their souls to the coup-mongering far right”.Maduro also claimed that by noon on Tuesday 80% of troops involved in the mutiny attempt had abandoned Guaidó. Only a small group of about 20 was left having “handed over their souls to the coup-mongering far right”.
Maduro says the action was an attempt to spark an armed confrontation between Venezuelans that cd be used to justify a foreign intervention “so the empire could get its claws into Venezuela”Maduro says the action was an attempt to spark an armed confrontation between Venezuelans that cd be used to justify a foreign intervention “so the empire could get its claws into Venezuela”
Maduro is still speaking.Maduro is still speaking.
He says the perpetrators of the coup were being interrogated. “This cannot go unpunished ... all of those involved must surrender.”He says the perpetrators of the coup were being interrogated. “This cannot go unpunished ... all of those involved must surrender.”
Maduro says his government will continue to be victorious and that his regime will continue to keep a “razor steel” nerve to protect the country.Maduro says his government will continue to be victorious and that his regime will continue to keep a “razor steel” nerve to protect the country.
In a rambling address, the president says that the rebellion was detected at about 4.15am and was led by Leopoldo Lopez “the fascist”.In a rambling address, the president says that the rebellion was detected at about 4.15am and was led by Leopoldo Lopez “the fascist”.
He claimed his government responded with “nerves of steel, maximum serenity and effective action”.He claimed his government responded with “nerves of steel, maximum serenity and effective action”.
Maduro says the uprising was detected at about 415am and was led by Leopoldo Lopez “the fascist”. Claims his government responded with “nerves of steel, maximum serenity and effective action”Maduro says the uprising was detected at about 415am and was led by Leopoldo Lopez “the fascist”. Claims his government responded with “nerves of steel, maximum serenity and effective action”
The mutineers were heavily armed but had been overcome by the armed forces consisting of the army and the “Bolivarian national guard”.The mutineers were heavily armed but had been overcome by the armed forces consisting of the army and the “Bolivarian national guard”.
The president says the mutiny by Juan Guaidó has been defeated. He has Venezuela will never surrender to “imperialist forces”.The president says the mutiny by Juan Guaidó has been defeated. He has Venezuela will never surrender to “imperialist forces”.
Maduro speaking now, surrounded by political and military top brass. He claims Guaidó's coup-attempt has been defeated and calls for applause for the brave and obedient Bolivarian armed forces pic.twitter.com/IZmKWVVF5LMaduro speaking now, surrounded by political and military top brass. He claims Guaidó's coup-attempt has been defeated and calls for applause for the brave and obedient Bolivarian armed forces pic.twitter.com/IZmKWVVF5L
El presidente is speaking now ...El presidente is speaking now ...
Another exciting development in Caracas where it is rumoured that Maduro is about to address the nation – his first appearance since Guaidó’s mutiny began before dawn on Tuesday.Another exciting development in Caracas where it is rumoured that Maduro is about to address the nation – his first appearance since Guaidó’s mutiny began before dawn on Tuesday.
Tom Phillips says: “Frantic speculation about why he has taken so long to show his face – we may be about to find out why.”Tom Phillips says: “Frantic speculation about why he has taken so long to show his face – we may be about to find out why.”
Following up his claim that Maduro no longer has the backing of the military, Guaidó calls in his message for members of the military to “keep advancing” in efforts to oust the president.Following up his claim that Maduro no longer has the backing of the military, Guaidó calls in his message for members of the military to “keep advancing” in efforts to oust the president.
Guaidó says “the whole of Venezuela must hit the streets” on Wednesday in order to force president Nicolás Maduro from power.
He says the action that he has initiated this week is not a coup but “a peaceful rebellion” and says Maduro today “does not have the backing of the armed forces”.
Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has issued a rallying call to supporters on YouTube.
You can watch the full video here:
Here is the full video. No mention of where Guaidó now is. https://t.co/EHG1nV0vz0
A huge number of people of left Venezuela in recent years as the country’s economic and social fabric have deteriorated. Tom Phillips has been speaking to some of them as they gathered outside the country’s embassy in Mexico City and hearing about how they yearn to return to their homeland.
One of them, Yoraco Falcón, a 30-year-old Uber driver who abandoned Venezuela with his family last August, said: “We miss Venezuela. We love Venezuela. As soon as Maduro’s government falls, so many of us will go straight back … I want my son to grow up in Venezuela just like I did,” Falcón said.
But they don’t have it all their own way. A pro-Maduro demonstrator, Sofía Nava, 47, said: “We support sovereignty. We are against interventionism. We are against Trump’s tricks. We don’t want an invasion.”
You can read Tom’s whole piece here:
Venezuelan exiles dream of returning home as they wait for Maduro’s fall
This is Martin Farrer taking over the blog from Kevin. Good morning, good evening, buenos días, buenas noches ... wherever you are thanks for joining us.
Our man Latin American correspondent, Tom Phillips, has just filed an update from Mexico City:
Juan Guaidó’s representative in Mexico, Reinaldo Díaz Ohep, has just been addressing supporters outside the Venezuelan embassy here and his speech gives a sense of the profound uncertainty millions of Venezuelan exiles are feeling tonight after today’s attempted uprising.
Díaz, who is 32, said there was a lot of “disinformation going around” about what was really going on in Venezuela and said the coming hours could bring frustration, anxiety and even despair.
“But it is really important ... that you know that what is going on at this moment is not improvised,” Díaz insisted.
He admitted political battle in Venezuela was an emotional roller coaster “and that is perfectly understandable – we have families over there who are suffering.”
But he insisted that the so-called Operation Freedom to force Maduro from power was now in its final stage. Guaidó and his team were “working to solve this problem, as soon as possible”. Fresh protests would be held on Wednesday. Guaidó was likely to make a fresh pronouncement tonight.
The Chilean foreign minister, Roberto Ampuero, has said López and his wife have moved to the Spanish embassy. There is no mention of the whereabouts of their daughter, who was also reported to be with them (see this post).
Quiero actualizar información: Lilian Tintori y Leopoldo López -de ascendencia española- se trasladaron a embajada de España. Se trata de una decisión personal, considerando que nuestra embajada ya tenía huéspedes.
Ampuero said it was a personal decision on their part because the Chilean embassy already has guests staying.
According to Antonio Ledezma, a former mayor of Caracas and opposition politician, Leopoldo López has not requested asylum from Chile and is “no longer in the diplomatic residence”.
Atencion.Informamos a Venezuela y a la comunidad internacional que @leopoldolopez no ha solicitado asilo al Gobierno de Chile y ya no se encuentra en la residencia diplomática. pic.twitter.com/BbDr2SaZgW
Venezuelan media is reporting that dozens of people were injured in Caracas today after the attempted mutiny against Maduro. The Efecto Cocuyo website says at least 69 people were taken to hospital; two of them having received gun shot wounds.
#SepaQue Al menos 69 heridos en protestas de Caracas tras alzamiento militar #30Abr https://t.co/2MQ3Y5WBfp pic.twitter.com/KWCg6341Y5
Earlier, the Associated Press quoted the director of a Caracas medical centre as saying doctors were treating 50 patients. Maggia Santi said 30 of those injured were shot with rubber bullets, another 16 sustained bodily trauma, three reported difficulty breathing and one was shot with a firearm.
She said doctors had sufficient supplies to treat the injured, in part due to recent donations by organisations including the Red Cross. The person injured by gunfire was reported to be stable.
A crowd of about 500 or 600 Maduro supporters has gathered outside the presidential palace in Caracas.
One of them is 50-year-old Elsa Aguilar, who lives in Jardines de El Valle, a working class area in west Caracas. She is a member of the Bolivarian Militia – a group set up under Hugo Chávez, in which civilians receive military training.
I’ve been here since 6.30am. As soon as I heard the news, I took action and came here to Miraflores to fight for my country against these disasters who want to bring in the US, through their lackeys, here in Venezuela. We’re well-organised and we know what to do in moments like this.
Julian Rivero, is a 63-year-old retired former worker with the Misión Barrio Adentro, part of the parallel health system Hugo Chávez built with the help of Cuba. He lives in Valles del Tuy, a commuter town about 40 min southeast from Caracas.
Rivero carried a bag of mangos, which he said would keep him going through the day.
I hitchhiked down here because I don’t have the money for the fare. I brought my breakfast, lunch and dinner with me because I’m going to stay and defend the revolution.
I lived through the Venezuela before [Chávez] and I can say that the benefits for the people are much better now.
He had nothing but scorn for the opposition.
That lot want there to be deaths to create chaos in the country, but we don’t want that. We want peace. They are breaking Venezuela.
Ramping up the pressure on key figures in Caracas, the US national security adviser, John Bolton, has just put out this video. He calls on all Venezuelans to take action to remove Maduro and the “kleptocrats” around him and regain their “libertad”.
This is a critical point for your history.
To all the patriotic citizens of Venezuela: pic.twitter.com/qlByCPk7Qj