Venezuela news: State uses tear gas on protestors as Pompeo threatens US military action

Competing leaders both call for people to take a stand amid violence on the streets of Caracas

Venezuelan military vehicle drives into crowd of civilians on highway

Protestors have taken to the streets in Venezuela in competing demonstrations as the battle for power continues in Caracas and beyond.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido has declared himself the legitimate leader of the country, backed by the US and dozens of other nations, after accusing President Nicolas Maduro of fraudulently keeping his place in office. He has called for mass protests.

Mr Maduro has called the uprising a ‘coup’ and has said that he has subdued the ‘traitors’ in the military who have backed Mr Guaido.

He too has called for his “working class supporters” to take to the streets on Wednesday, which is International Workers’ Day.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said that the US will take military action in Venezuela “if required” but would prefer a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The Pentagon on Wednesday appeared to downplay any active planning to directly intervene in Venezuela to topple President Nicolas Maduro, telling Congress it had not been given orders to prepare for war and stressing support for diplomacy.

Asked whether the US military had been given instructions to prepare for a military conflict, perhaps by prepositioning troops, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Kathryn Wheelbarger said: “We of course always review available options and plan for contingencies.”

“But in this case we have not been given (the) sort of orders that you’re discussing, no,” Ms Wheelbarger told the House Armed Services Committee.

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Key Points

• US secretary of state says US will take military action 'if required'
• What is behind the uprising in Venezuela?
• Protesters mowed down by military vehicle amid clashes
• Trump threatens Cuba with full embargo over support for Maduro

[1 May 2019 15:42 · Chris Stevenson]

The Pentagon has appeared to downplay any active planning to directly intervene in Venezuela to topple President Nicolas Maduro, telling Congress it had not been given orders to prepare for war and stressing support for diplomacy.

Asked whether the US military had been given instructions to ready itself for a military conflict, Kathryn Wheelbarger, the acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs told the House Armed Services Committee: "We, of course, always review available options and plan for contingencies.

"But in this case we have not been given (the) sort of orders that you're discussing, no," 

[1 May 2019 15:52 · Chris Stevenson]

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has said that fractures within the Venezuelan army could lead to the “collapse” of Nicolas Maduro's socialist government.

“The information that we have is that there is a facture that is getting closer and closer to the leadership of the (Venezuelan) armed forces,” Mr Bolsonaro said in remarks broadcast by channel Globo News.

[1 May 2019 16:02 · Chris Stevenson]

Shortly after President Nicolas Maduro tweeted his support for the working class, opposition leader Juan Guaido put out his own message to mark International Workers' Day.

"To our workers: We recognize the value of dignified work, which affords you well-being and progress. Today we know that there is no salary which reaches (to that), and that your rights and achievements are ignored. #1M (May 1) we accompany you in your demands. See you in the street!"

[1 May 2019 16:16 · Chris Stevenson]

Mr Maduro sought to rally his supporters with a tweet condemning “yankee interference”.

The president tweeted: “Today the Venezuelan working class is mobilising in all the country to celebrate its day and defend its achievements, with a big march that will say no to putschism and no to yankee interference. Nerves of steel, calmness and sanity. Long live the workers and of the country!”

[1 May 2019 16:31 · Chris Stevenson]

Several hundred opposition supporters have gathered in a Caracas neighborhood, heeding a call by opposition leader Juan Guaido for more protests a day after his calls for a military uprising fell short.

[1 May 2019 16:45 · Chris Stevenson]

State security forces are using tear gas to disperse protesters opposed to President Nicolas Maduro who have gathered at a middle-class neighborhood in western Caracas, according to the Associated Press. 

National Guardsmen on motorcycles arrived at the El Paraiso neighborhood Wednesday as opposition demonstrations got underway. 

Some protesters shouted at the agents: "Stop firing at the people!" 

Many dispersed after white clouds of tear gas spread through the air while others vowed to remain, waving flags and banging pots. 

[1 May 2019 17:01 · Chris Stevenson]

Here is an opinion piece on what Leopoldo Lopez means to the opposition. Military supporters backing the opposition took time to release him yesterday, an indication of the symbol he has become. 

[1 May 2019 17:16 · Chris Stevenson]

Here is some video of the latest on the streets of Caracas.

[1 May 2019 17:27 · Chris Stevenson]

Acting US defence secretary Patrick Shanahan has cancelled plans to travel to Europe, citing the crisis in Venezuela and the situation along the US-Mexico border.

Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, said in a statement that Mr Shanahan decided he should remain in Washington to coordinate with the National Security Council and the State Department on Venezuela.

[1 May 2019 17:42 · Chris Stevenson]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told Mike Pompeo by phone that further "aggressive steps" in Venezuela would be fraught with the gravest consequences, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

Mr Lavrov also condemned what he called the United States' "interference" in Venezuela's internal affairs as a breach of international law, adding that dialogue between all political forces is required in the Latin American country.