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Venezuela President Maduro arrests 'three plotting generals' | Venezuela President Maduro arrests 'three plotting generals' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said that three air force generals have been arrested for plotting an uprising against his government. | Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said that three air force generals have been arrested for plotting an uprising against his government. |
Mr Maduro said that the authorities had been tipped off by "young officers". | Mr Maduro said that the authorities had been tipped off by "young officers". |
The three generals, who have not been named, had links with the opposition, said Mr Maduro. | The three generals, who have not been named, had links with the opposition, said Mr Maduro. |
The arrests are the latest development in nearly two months of political unrest, which have cost the lives of at least 32 people. | The arrests are the latest development in nearly two months of political unrest, which have cost the lives of at least 32 people. |
Mr Maduro's comments were made during a meeting with a delegation of foreign ministers of the Unasur regional bloc, which was sent to Venezuela to assess the political crisis. | Mr Maduro's comments were made during a meeting with a delegation of foreign ministers of the Unasur regional bloc, which was sent to Venezuela to assess the political crisis. |
"The generals who have been detained have direct links with opposition sectors and were saying that this week was going to be decisive," said Mr Maduro. | "The generals who have been detained have direct links with opposition sectors and were saying that this week was going to be decisive," said Mr Maduro. |
They were planning to create "chaos in the public services, power cuts across Venezuela," Mr Maduro added. | They were planning to create "chaos in the public services, power cuts across Venezuela," Mr Maduro added. |
'Alarmed young officers' | 'Alarmed young officers' |
He said the authorities had been alerted by "alarmed younger officers, generals, lieutenant colonels" who had been invited to join the coup. The generals were arrested on Monday night. | He said the authorities had been alerted by "alarmed younger officers, generals, lieutenant colonels" who had been invited to join the coup. The generals were arrested on Monday night. |
Mr Maduro has previously accused right-wing sectors backed by the United States of stirring up trouble as part of a plot to oust him. | Mr Maduro has previously accused right-wing sectors backed by the United States of stirring up trouble as part of a plot to oust him. |
The opposition has accused the government of heavy-handedness in their response to the street protests, which began in the first week of February. | |
Demonstrators have complained of high inflation, rampant crime and shortages of many staples. | Demonstrators have complained of high inflation, rampant crime and shortages of many staples. |
They say that more than 14 years of left-wing programmes, introduced by the late President Hugo Chavez, have failed. | They say that more than 14 years of left-wing programmes, introduced by the late President Hugo Chavez, have failed. |
Mr Maduro was elected last April to succeed Mr Chavez, who died of cancer in March 2013. | Mr Maduro was elected last April to succeed Mr Chavez, who died of cancer in March 2013. |
He defeated opposition leader Henrique Capriles by a narrow margin. His term ends in 2019. | He defeated opposition leader Henrique Capriles by a narrow margin. His term ends in 2019. |
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