breaking: ‘WATCH tear gas fired on highway near Caracas air base where Guaido appeared in video with soldiers’, rt.com
“Tear gas has been fired as clashes broke out in Caracas following a video released by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, in which he called for a full-scale military uprising against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro’s spokesman has confirmed that a coup is underway in Venezuela, while the country’s defense minister said: “We reject this coup movement that aims to fill the country with violence.”
Shots fired, etc. More later as things develop; coverage at telesur english is…scattered.
‘Live Updates: Venezuelans Gather at Presidential Palace to Reject Coup Attempt’ telesur english
“Juan Guaido, the opposition lawmaker who illegally self-proclaimed “interim president” of Venezuela, Tuesday morning made a call on social media asking the military and people to begin an uprising against the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Main government officials have rejected the attempted coup and called on the country’s population to do the same and march towards the Miraflores presidential palace to protect the country from the far-right, U.S.-backed coup.
Thousands of citizens have accepted the call and marched Tuesday to the palace to attend a rally led by the head of the National Consistent Assembly Diosdado.
UPDATE 11:20 am
teleSUR’s correspondents spoke to the Chavistas gathering at the Miraflores palace in support of President Maduro and in rejection of the coup.
UPDATE: 11:15 am
Jose Arnelas, the Chief of the Operational Strategic Command (CEOFAN), which is the highest command organ of the National Armed Forces, confirmed his support of the constitutional government and the Chavista revolutionary legacy.
“As a soldier of this country who remains attached to my supreme commander Hugo Chavez’ legacy, I reaffirm my absolute loyalty to my Chief commander Nicolas Maduro. Today, more than ever, we, the National Bolivarian Armed Forces will defeat those who seek to break the Republic’s peace. Overcome.”
UPDATE: 11:00 am
Venezuela’s President of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) Diosdado Cabello joined the Bolivarian people who were supporting President Nicolas Maduro outside the ANC building.
“We are a conscious, warrior and revolutionary people. Imperialism can understand it however it wants, but to the Palace of Miraflores they will never return,” he said.
UPDATE: 10:55 am
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza responded to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s tweet by showing that he is assuming a “leadership role of the coup attempt. In the name of God, he calls for violence, destruction and death. Is that being a good Christian? The People of Venezuela and their Bolivarian Armed Forces are a guarantee of peace and respect for the Constitution.”
UPDATE: 10:50 am
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) countries strongly rejected attempts to violate the constitutional order in Venezuela and pointed out that the events are “clearly a coup attempt sponsored and prompted by the Venezuelan far-right radical forces acting in complicity with the historical enemies of Latin American countries’ independence and sovereignty.”
The ALBA countries called on the Latin American peoples to defend their independence and sovereignty.
UPDATE: 10:40 am
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s claims supporting “Operation Freedom,” which is the code name used to disguising the U.S. backed military action in the Latin American country.
“The puppet chosen by the empire and its ally governments only serve to ridiculously be the image in beauty covers but with its devilish face! The brave people of Bolívar and Chávez are with the constitutional Venezuelan President @NicolasMaduro we will overcome!”
Vice President Rodriguez also pointed out “in a shameless and immoral way, the U.S. government recognizes its authorship in this criminal coup attempt against Venezuela! They’re showing the world their desire to destroy our Homeland! The Venezuelan people will continue defeating the imperial aggressions in peace! “
on edit, changing timelines to most recent:
UPDATE: 3:48 pm
During a press conference from New York, the Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations Samuel Moncada said that Tuesday’s “coup attempt seeks to promote a puppet government, but failed because most of our people want to live in peace and with the right to self-determination.”
The Venezuelan official also called on the international community to reject the far-right violent attempt, for it “violates every U.N Charter and undermines peace.”
The diplomat pointed out that the U.S. government has openly admitted that it has participated in today’s new conspiracy act and commented that “it’s a psychopathic, warlike elite that is using all media with a bombard of fake news.”
Regarding Venezuela opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez asylum request at the Chilean embassy, Moncada said that “those gentlemen have been defeated, but that defeat will have consequences in many parts of that fictitious government.”
UPDATE: 3:11 pm
Chile’s Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Ampuero confirmed that Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez and his family requested asylum at the Chilean embassy in Caracas.
“Lilian Tintori and her daughter entered as guests of our diplomatic mission in Caracas. A few minutes ago her spouse, Leopoldo Lopez, joined his family in that place. Chile reaffirms commitment with Venezuelan democrats,” Minister Ampuero tweeted.
UPDATE: 2:02 pm
Facing a new failed coup attempt in Venezuela, the U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton tried again to threaten and bribe Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, Presidential Guard commander Ivan Hernandez, and Supreme Justice president Maikel Moreno by promising them special favors in exchange for supporting the opposition politician Guaido.
“Your time is up. This is your last chance. Accept Interim President Guaido’s amnesty, protect the Constitution, and remove Maduro, and we will take you off our sanctions list. Stay with Maduro, and go down with the ship,” said Bolton.
UPDATE: 13:40 am
Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino denounced that a Bolivarian army’s colonel was bullet wounded on the Francisco Fajardo highway, where Guaido-led opposition forces have been demonstrating in Caracas.
“I denounce violent aggression against Col. Yerzon Jimenez Baez, the CZGNB-43 Operations chief, who was shot in his neck on the Francisco Fajardo highway. He is entering the operating room right now. I hold the political opposition leadership responsible.”
UPDATE: 13:20 am
Soldiers reveal to teleSUR reporters about how they were tricked into joining the attempted coup by Juan Guaido and his right-wing allies in the country. (w/ video)
UPDATE: 12:52 am
According to the Russian news agency Tass, President Vladimir Putin met the National Security Council to discuss Tuesday’s situation in Venezuela.
“The meeting’s participants paid much attention to the situation in Venezuela in light of the news about an attempted coup,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted.
“We stand on principles supporting political and civilized ways to resolve domestic differences among Venezuelan citizens. We call on all international community members, including [Venezuela’s] closest neighbors, to reaffirm their adherence to the UN Charter and the international law norms and principles, and to support the return of Venezuela to a stable and progressive development path through the dialogue of all the country’s responsible political forces.”
UPDATE: 12:40 am
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked for “maximum restraint” in Venezuela to avoid violence, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told international media.
“The Secretary-General urges all sides to exercise maximum restraint and he appeals to all stakeholders to avoid any violence and take immediate steps to restore calm,” Dujarric said and added that Guterres was available to mediate if required.
UPDATE: 12:30 am
Uruguay’s Communist Party expressed its solidarity with President Nicolas Maduro and requested that the Montevideo Mechanism countries -which include Uruguay, Bolivia and Mexico- act immediately to prevent any further attack to Venezuela.
“In several countries, there have been tests of coup attempts. Once the alignment of the forces is verified, those tests have materialized. Therefore, we call on all democratic and peace supporting forces… to remain alert and firm in solidarity.”
UPDATE: 12:21 am
The Russian Foreign Ministry, which issued Tuesday a press released commenting on Venezuela’s situation, stated that the Guaido-led opposition is provoking public disorder.
“Venezuela’s radical opposition has once again turned to power methods of confrontation. Instead of a peaceful settlement of political contradictions, the course was taken to incite conflict,” the text says, as reported by RT.
Russian diplomats called on protesters to avoid unrest and bloodshed, for “any action should be taken exclusively within the framework of the law.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry also asked mainstream media not to spread “fake news” or become “political forces’ obedient tools.”
UPDATE: 12:00 am
Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino gave a press conference to narrate how today’s attempted coup in Venezuela had occurred.
“This is a cowardly, terrorist act and an attempted coup d’état of a very small magnitude,” he said and stressed that Guaido’s far-right forces “have tricked a group of men with hijacked vehicles of our national guard to commit a terrorist act.”
Minister Padrino also mentioned that the Bolivarian militia reacted immediately to the coup attempt and “their commanders put themselves at the head of their troops to reject a cowardly act.”
UPDATE: 11:50 am
Zambia’s Socialist Party condemned the coup attempt against the Bolivarian Revolution and reaffirmed its support to President Maduro’s redistributive policies.
“Having failed over the years to kill the leadership and destroy the gains of the Bolivarian Revolution, the U.S. is now desperately turning to rogues in the army to do their dirty job. As it is to be expected, the greatest majority of the troops and all commanders are loyal to the people, the Constitution and their homeland. Commandant Nicolas Maduro is the undisputed constitutional President of Venezuela.”
The African party also pointed out the real reasons behind the so-called “Operation Liberty”, namely, the “imperial” desire to plunder Venezuelan natural resources.
“The U.S. and European imperialist powers, plus their representatives in Venezuela, have plundered that country for centuries. The Bolivarian Revolution reversed that plunder and redistributed the wealth to its people. This is against the logic of capitalist plunder. This is the reason why today a coup is underway – to deny the Venezuelan masses their regained sovereignty and dignity.”
UPDATE: 11: 30 am
During an interview with RT, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said that “the U.S. has been behind all the coup attempts in Venezuela since 2001.” This time, however, the U.S. is not “behind” but rather “in front of” the attempted coup.
“It has been demonstrated that the craft of this coup is from the U.S. and that it is they who are financing and promoting the coup”, he said and further explained, speaking more accurately, that the new coup attempt began on Jan. 23, when the opposition congressman Juan Guaido illegally self-proclaimed Venezuela’s “interim president” and the U.S. government supported such claim.
UPDATE: 11:23 am
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrad presented through twitter his country’s stance regarding the coup d’etat which opposition Juan Guaido tried to carry out this Tuesday morning.
“The Mexican government is following closely the Venezuelan ongoing situation and is concerned about a possible escalation of violence. Mexico reiterates its commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis… Through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, consultations are being held with the other sixteen Montevideo Mechanism countries in order to find a common route.” [how very milquetoast of AMLO’s hope and change government; Pffff. which side are you on, AMLO?]
UPDATE: 10:05 am
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro called a ministerial emergency meeting to analyze the Venezuelan situation, according to Vice President Hamilton Mourao.
Regarding the coup attempt by opposition congressman Guaido, the Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said he “expects the Venezuelan military to be part of the democratic transition process… we have to see the dimension of this. Brazil supports the democratic transition process.”
[the liar bolsonaro has long signaled: ‘no regime change in VZ’ a so many DSA in the US, after criminalizing the Bolivarian govt.]
UPDATE: 9:55 am
Peru’s Foreign Minister reported that President Martin Vizcarra administration supports the Guaido-led coup attempt in Venezuela and is calling an emergency meeting of The Lima Group.
“We fully support interim president Juan Guaido in his struggle to recover democracy in Venezuela. The Maduro’s usurping, dictatorial regime must come to an end … Peru and the Lima Group are closely following the situation in Venezuela with a view to summon an emergency meeting.”
UPDATE: 9:44 am
Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera supports the coup attempt which is led by opposition congressman Juan Guaido.
“We reiterate our full support for President Guaido and democracy in Venezuela. The Maduro dictatorship must end with the Venezuelan people’s peaceful force and within the constitutional frame. This will restore liberties, democracy, human rights and progress in Venezuela.”
UPDATE 9:35 am
Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Luis Almagro welcomed the “military’s adhesion” to the coup attempt in Venezuela, led by Juan Guaido.
UPDATE 9:18 AM
The United States government has come out in support of the coup in Venezuela.
h/t b at MOA: april 29: Exclusive – Blackwater founder’s latest sales pitch: mercenaries for Venezuela’, reuters.com
davidly
Greyson Smythe
LeMoyne
juliania2
ohiobarbarian
stephenadavis1
wendyedavis
café babylon 
one would be forced to wonder if the ‘traitorous soldiers’ are just wearing er…borrowed uniforms, and there may be false flags on the way to try to gin up reasons for R2P venezuela.
from the twittersphere (i hadn’t thought about the arms):
is he correct?
yeah, yeah, and the beat goes on…you fucking criminal thugs.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US law enforcement officials blocked off the entrance of the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington on Tuesday amid ongoing protests over the handling of the crisis in the Latin American country, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the embassy.
About 30 policemen with handcuffs arrived at the Venezuelan Embassy, which has been occupied by activists for more than two weeks, blocking the entrance from 30th Street.
The goal of the protesters is to prevent US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido and his so-called government from taking possession of the building.
stranahn’s got his facts/labels wrong, imo:
last we’d heard was the coalition of VZ supporters were still inside.
via sputnik news, the longer version of this from the temper tantrum in chief:
this interview is total insanity, but pompeo and neo-con teevee anchor wolf blitzer are already on it: ‘the Russians did it!’
Really, the debil doed it.
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a [styrofoam] cross”. Blitzter, the talking head “voice of Israel” puppeteers the charlatan carrying the cross, who declaims “politics is a never-ending struggle … until the Rapture.” When these demagogues actually say, “Goodnight, you stupid people” what crapitalist puppet will report it?
They are more sinister than insane.
great comment, comrade x, but pompeo may be both. and ig’rant: what means ‘accreting power’? did he mean ‘accruing power’? well, both are bullshit as this iteration of the coup was a bit of a flop. ‘if the roosians hadn’t taked maduro out fleeing, the people wouldn’t continue to starve and die from lack of medicines!’ not got nuttin’ to do with the heavy and illegal sanctions of the nation since obomba began it, as he did: all options are on the table: VZ is a direct national security threat to amerika!’ (yeah, because: bolivarian socialism)
but this ain’t over by a long shot: look for cia false flags ‘necessitating’ a military invasion. cia takes out guaido makes sense as some posit?
Jah, but behind the insanity there’s the sinister arrogance. We will make your life hell until Jebus comes back … (whispering) and if he does we’ll kill him.
Gawd made it dis way …
lol. i’d meet you half-way and agree to: sinister sociopathy with ‘we’d kill jeebus’ in the mix.
Saker:
Got gave the bomb to such monsters? To hell with that.
i agree whole-hardheartedly to all of the saker’s comment save the first paragraph; surely he gets that it ain’t over yet, yes?
dying empires are of course at their most dangerous, flailing about, naming too many enemies, preparing for more wars, causing more wars by not only policy and budget, but occupation of lands…everywhere around the globe. trump’s alliance w/ bibi on the golan heights, moving embassies to
tel aviv, and tra la…have emboldened the idf’s war/s on gazans in their right of return protests as well.
g’ night, moon, hairbrush, and nobody, tonight’s closing lullaby is:
Yes to your comment on previous post wendye – garden, roof (!), family and just going slower in general, but I was keeping up with the main events till for some reason I went off on a rant about the BBC production of “Les Miserables” (it’s miserable) last night here, kept adding and subtracting from my post so it’s no wonder it did not appear.
But all is not lost – I went to my copy (yeah!) of Les Miz, and fortunately got absorbed in a beautiful, beautiful read. And lest you think I am completely off topic here – Victor Hugo even mentions the way one can distinguish between Bolivarians and Spanish sympathizers in his day – the former wear broad brimmed hats and the latter narrow. It is a narrow brim which accosts the hapless Fantine on the street causing her to lose her cool and attack him, thus drawing the attention of both Jean Valjean and Javert.
I describe the scene thusly as of course in the BBC version there is nothing to suggest anything of a revolutionary upheaval is underway in France when the soap opera they are presenting (and very inaccurately at that) takes place. Whereas in the novel, the times and events are interwoven. So, yes, this is a great book.
Let’s see if this makes it online.
fascinatingly on topic. i’d read it decades ago, and keep wondering if the BBC series is what i’d read. but probably so. the man playing javert so well was on MI5, ‘spooks’ in the UK, and i cried when he was murdered, he was that good.
dunno why the other one hadn’t shown up on the howie hawkins thread, it was in trash for some reason, and hard to free. i expect it may appear sooner or later.
thank you for the superb comment, ww.
Ah it did, and along with my previous list of distractions, the major one was of course Easter, which came and is and will be for some time to come.
I will add here that b has presented a counter coup operation which seems to have involved some play acting on the part of the Venezuelan officials. Very nicely done!
if i can make the time, i’ll check out b’s. but false flags are on their way, and that’s a certainty. the thug pompeo even hinted at it.