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Venezuela opposition leader claims coup is under way – live news Venezuela opposition leader claims coup is under way – live news
(32 minutes later)
This video, from Venezuelan TV news, apparently shows members of the National Guard loyal to Guaidó trying to force their colleagues to get out of their armoured cars on a main road in Caracas.
Funcionarios de la Guardia Nacional que apoyan a @jguaido , presionan a compañeros militares para que desciendan de la tanqueta en la autopista Francisco Fajardo, a la altura de El Recreo, en Caracas. #TVVNoticias #TVVenezuela pic.twitter.com/0XKjLU0Nc5
Leopoldo López’s wife, Lilian Tintori, has just told Joe Parkin Daniels that her husband was released “to free Venezuela alongside Guaidó”.
US national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday appeared to back Juan Guaidó’s call for support after the Venezuelan opposition leader urged Venezuelans and the military to back his effort to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
“The [armed forces] must protect the Constitution and the Venezuelan people. It should stand by the National Assembly and the legitimate institutions against the usurpation of democracy. The United States stands with the people of Venezuela,” Bolton tweeted. (Via Reuters)
Reuters reporting shots - apparently live rounds - fired near the La Carlota military base
Gunshots were heard at a rally led by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó outside a Caracas air base, witnesses said, after Guaidó said earlier that troops had joined him to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
The Reuters witnesses said men in military uniform, who were accompanying Guaidó at the scene, were exchanging fire with soldiers acting in support of Maduro. The witnesses said the shots appeared to be live rounds.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the ongoing military uprising in Venezuela with his top security body.
Russian news agencies on Tuesday quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Putin raised the current developments in Venezuela during his scheduled meeting with the Security Council.
Peskov said that the meeting “paid significant attention to the news reports about a coup attempt in that country”.
He did not elaborate further. (Via AP)
Tear gas fired in Caracas
More reaction from the region, this time from Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez:
We forcefully condemn the attempted coup d’état under way in Venezuela. Cuba offers firm support and loyalty to Nicolás Maduro, the consitutional president of our sister nation and to his chavista and Bolivarian government. Let there be an end to the assaults on peace in [Latin] America.
Earlier this month, Cuba’s leader, Raúl Castro, promised that Cuba would never abandon its leftist ally Venezuela despite US “blackmail”, even as the Trump administration threatened more sanctions over its support.
Raúl Castro pledges Cuba will never abandon Venezuela
The opposition leader Juan Guaidó was almost unknown both inside and outside Venezuela until the start of this year.
Guaidó was made chairman of the national assembly in January because it was the turn of his party, Voluntad Popular (People’s Will). At 35, he was a junior member of his party but its leaders were either under house arrest, in hiding or in exile.
He declared himself "interim president" that month, resting his claim on a clause in the constitution that allows the legislature to take power temporarily and call new elections if it deems the president to be failing to fulfil basic duties or to have vacated the post. 
Guaidó's relative obscurity initially proved an advantage in a country where the opposition has generally failed to distinguish itself, losing its nerve at critical moments, succumbing to infighting, and getting involved in a failed coup against Hugo Chávez in 2002.
He inspired a huge wave of protests inside Venezuela with a message of peaceful change, and won widespread international support. Countries from Europe to the US and regional powers recognised him as Venezuela's legitimate president, handing him control of bank accounts and Venezuelan assets along with the formal recognition.
As months dragged on however, Guaidó's hope of winning a wave of military defections that would end the rule of Nicolás Maduro seemed to fade, leaving his movement in an uneasy limbo - self-declared president but with no power.
He raised concerns inside Venezuela and internationally when he appeared to hint at the possibility of military intervention after a failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country in February.
Questions have also been raised about the bedfellows Guaidó has chosen in what he calls his bid to rescue Venezuela. His main international backer is Donald Trump. 
Another key regional supporter is Brazil’s far-right firebrand president, Jair Bolsonaro, known for his hostility to human rights and his fondness for dictatorship. Despite these characteristics, Guaidó has praised what he called Bolsonaro’s “commitment to and for democracy [and] human rights”. 
This update from Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá:This update from Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá:
Venezuelan military defectors who declared their support for Guaidó after crossing into neighbouring Colombia are now preparing to move back into Venezuela to support the uprising.Venezuelan military defectors who declared their support for Guaidó after crossing into neighbouring Colombia are now preparing to move back into Venezuela to support the uprising.
Two ex-soldiers in the Colombian border city Cúcuta told the Guardian that they were currently en route to the Tienditas bridge separating the countries.Two ex-soldiers in the Colombian border city Cúcuta told the Guardian that they were currently en route to the Tienditas bridge separating the countries.
“We are waiting for our orders from our president, Juan Guaidó,” said one sergeant who defected to Guaidó after crossing the border in late March.“We are waiting for our orders from our president, Juan Guaidó,” said one sergeant who defected to Guaidó after crossing the border in late March.
Around 1000 Venezuelan soldiers, national guardsmen, and other security officials have crossed into Colombia over the last two months, according to Colombian migration officials.Around 1000 Venezuelan soldiers, national guardsmen, and other security officials have crossed into Colombia over the last two months, according to Colombian migration officials.
He hasn’t tweeted about it yet, but Donald Trump is keeping an eye on Venezuela, Reuters reports.He hasn’t tweeted about it yet, but Donald Trump is keeping an eye on Venezuela, Reuters reports.
“The president has been briefed and we are monitoring the ongoing situation,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in an email.“The president has been briefed and we are monitoring the ongoing situation,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in an email.
Venezuela’s ambassador to Spain, Mario Isea, has told the Spanish news agency Efe that the situation in Venezuela is under control:Venezuela’s ambassador to Spain, Mario Isea, has told the Spanish news agency Efe that the situation in Venezuela is under control:
The information I have is that there’s a small group who have tried to undermine order but things are under control.The information I have is that there’s a small group who have tried to undermine order but things are under control.
This is from Patricia Torres, who reports for the Guardian from Venezuela:This is from Patricia Torres, who reports for the Guardian from Venezuela:
I was in the middle of our morning routine when I heard a cacerolazo [people banging pots and bangs - a common form of protest in Venezuela and across Latin America] but when I was leaving the house, my neighbours told me ‘Don’t go because they took La Carlota [military base]’.I was in the middle of our morning routine when I heard a cacerolazo [people banging pots and bangs - a common form of protest in Venezuela and across Latin America] but when I was leaving the house, my neighbours told me ‘Don’t go because they took La Carlota [military base]’.
I looked out the window and could see children going back home from the school next door … people were doing a cacerolazo. I just spoke to my father who lives near La Carlota and he said he’d heard some loud bangs from there.I looked out the window and could see children going back home from the school next door … people were doing a cacerolazo. I just spoke to my father who lives near La Carlota and he said he’d heard some loud bangs from there.
Spain’s El Mundo has video footage of clashes near the La Carlota military base:
Primeras imágenes de tensión y enfrentamientos en Venezuela. Han sido grabadas en los alrededores de la base militar de La Carlota. Allí compareció Juan Guaidó para anunciar que Leopoldo López había sido liberado del arresto domiciliario por militares opuestos a Maduro. pic.twitter.com/mbTn7ISba0
Luis Almagro, secretary-general of the Organisation of American States (OEA), has tweeted his support.
We welcome the adhesion of the military to the Constitution and to the President in charge of #Venezuela @jguaido. The fullest support for the democratic transition process is needed in a peaceful manner
Saludamos adhesión de militares a la Constitución y al Presidente encargado de #Venezuela @jguaido. Es necesario el más pleno respaldo al proceso de transición democrática de forma pacífica. #OEAconVzla https://t.co/2fnCtClFIe
Meaning at least some portion of Venezuela's intelligence service may have switched sides... https://t.co/t1DOHwnqKL
Spain’s caretaker government has called for a bloodless and peaceful transition to a democratic presidential election in Venezuela.
Government spokeswoman Isabel Celaá says the government is following closely developments in Caracas, where the opposition has called for Venezuelans to take to the streets to oust Nicolás Maduro from power.
“We hope with all of our strength that there is no bloodshed. We support a peaceful democratic process in Venezuela. We support the immediate holding of an election for a new president,” Celaá said on Tuesday during a weekly routine press briefing.
Spain has recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela but has not cut ties with Maduro’s government.
More than 177,000 Spaniards live in Venezuela, and Spain has become a destination for thousands of Venezuelans escaping the political and economic crisis in recent years.
Celaá said Guaidó has “legitimacy to lead democratic transition in Venezuela.”
She added: “Guaidó represents the alternative.”
(Via AP)
Vladimir Padrino, head of the Venezuelan military, says on Twitter that the armed forces are staying loyal to Maduro. He’s also hitting out at the “cowards” and “traitors” behind the coup.
The armed forces remain firm in their defence of the national constitution and the legitimate authorities. All military units deployed in the eight defence regions report things are normal in the barracks and military bases, which are under the command of their local commanders.
We reject this coup movement, which seeks to fill our country with violence. The pseudo-leaders at the head of this subversive movement are using troops and police officers armed with combat weapons on the streets of the city to stir up anxiety and terror.
You’re a bunch of cowards! We will remain firm in the defence of constitutional order and the peace of the republic, backed up by law, history and what is right. Ever loyal, never traitors!
This from our Latin America correspondent, Tom Phillips:
By coincidence, the son of Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro - one of Juan Guaidó’s key regional backers - is up on Brazil’s border with Venezuela this week.
Politician Eduardo Bolsonaro - who many seee as Brazil’s parallel foreign minister - has taken a group of lawmakers to Roraima state to see up close the plight of Venezuelan refugees in the region
Hoje em Roraima visitamos: hospitais estaduais e municipais c/ o gov. estadual e municipal . Dia que nos deixou mais próximos do caos que a narcoditadura de @nicolasmaduro faz na Venezuela e causa a atual crise migratória. pic.twitter.com/KP1q1AWrvr
There were sporadic efforts with tear gas to break up the protesters who gathered on a highway overpass in wealthier eastern Caracas. It appeared to have been fired from inside the Carlota air base. But more people gathered as they sensed what could be their strongest opportunity yet to overthrow the government.
“It’s now or never,” said one of the young soldiers, his face covered in the blue bandanna preferred by the few dozen soldiers who stood alongside Guaidó and López.
(Via AP)
Bolivia’s president, Evo Morales, has tweeted his full-throated condemnation of today’s events:
We forcefully condemn the attempted coup d’état in Venezuela, which is being conducted by the right and backed by foreign interests. But we are sure that the brave Bolivarian Revolution of our brother Nicolas Maduro will reassert itself after this new imperial attack.
The US, with its meddling and coup-waging, looks to wreak violence and death in Venezuela, caring only about its interests and nothing about the human losses. We must be united on our guard so that the coup-perpetrators never return to our region.
This is from López himself:
The definitive phase towards the end of the usurpation has begun, Operation Freedom. I’ve been freed by soldiers following the constitution and President Guaidó. I’m at the La Carlota base. Let’s all mobilise. It’s time to win Freedom. Stength and Faith.
Venezuela: ha iniciado la fase definitiva para el cese de la usurpación, la Operación Libertad. He sido liberado por militares a la orden de la Constitución y del Presidente Guaidó. Estoy en la Base La Carlota. Todos a movilizarnos. Es hora de conquistar la Libertad. Fuerza y Fe pic.twitter.com/Awm6P09ZM0
Venezuela’s socialist party boss, Diosdado Cabello, has called on government supporters to amass at the presidential palace to defend Nicolás Maduro from what he says is a small uprising of traitorous military soldiers backed by the US.
His comments in a phone call to state TV came after opposition leader Juan Guaidó appeared in a video with a small contingent of heavily armed soldiers and formerly detained opposition activist Leopoldo López calling for Venezuelans to take to the streets to oust Maduro.
Cabello downplayed the significance of the rebellion, saying Caracas is in calm and that the Carlota air base near where the rebellious soldiers are gathered had not been touched. (Via AP)