Venezuela's
opposition leader Juan Guaido says he has started the "final phase"
of his plan to oust President Nicolas Maduro
Government says it
is confronting a small group of "military traitors" seeking to
promote a coup
Mass protests
planned tomorrow and Mr Guaido calls on "heroes of the army" to stand
with him
According to the opposition
leader Juan Guaido: We have talked with our allies in the international
community and we have their strong support for this irreversible process of change in our
country.
It #OperaciónLibertad began
and we will resist until we achieve a
free Venezuela. #TodaVenezuelaALaCalle
Juan Guaido says he has the support of some of the military now to begin the "final phase" of removing Maduro from power.
Juan Guaido's ambassador to Washington, Carlos
Vecchio: "This is not a military coup but a constitutional process led by
the Venezuelan people.
"(Guaido) is calling for the restoration of the
constitution and our democratic system.
To Maduro: "Your time is over, Venezuela is
ready for change."
In March, it was discovered
that Venezuela's biggest oil production field was in a shocking state of
disrepair, with oil seeping from leaking pipes into a nearby lake -
contaminating the water.
The Venezuelan capital,
Caracas, had suffered its second major power cut in a month as the country's
economic crisis worsens.
President Nicolas Maduro
blames US oil sanctions, applied as punishment for his human rights abuses.
Venezuela is one of the world's largest exporters
of oil and the resource is a major part of their economy.
