Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday security forces had foiled an opposition coup attempt that included plans to assassinate him and other top politicians.

Iran Press/America: President Nicolas Maduro in an evening broadcast on Wednesday said: “We have revealed, dismantled and captured a fascist band of terrorists that planned a coup against Venezuelan society and Venezuelan democracy. They are captured, behind bars, with clear evidence after following this group of criminals and fascists.”

The plan allegedly involved an attack on the headquarters of the Sebin intelligence agency to release General Raul Baduel, a former defense minister who was arrested on corruption accusations in 2009 after falling out with the ruling Socialist Part, Reuters reported.

President Maduro said the plan involved opposition politician, Juan Guaido, as well as political leaders from Chile, Colombia and the United States.

Guaido has dismissed the accusations as lies. 

The crisis in Venezuela started back in January 2019, when opposition politician, Juan Guaido declared himself 'the president of Venezuela', and promptly received backing from Washington and a number of other Western countries. The Trump administration wants regime change in Venezuela and has used sanctions pressure, and even sent military forces to neighbouring Colombia, hoping to foment an uprising against the democratically-elected president, Nicolas Maduro.

211/213

Read More:

Maduro asks Venezuelan army to prepare for probable US attack

Venezuelan army holds rally in support of Maduro