Maduro cautions Army over coups

Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday called on the armed forces to oppose “any coup plotter” after a military uprising in support of Opposition leader Juan Guaido fizzled out, and subsequent street clashes left four protesters dead.

On Tuesday, Guaido — who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as the crisis-wracked country’s interim president — urged the armed forces to rise up against the embattled leader.

A small group heeded the call, but the movement failed to ignite —  the military leadership ratified their support for the government, and Maduro is standing his ground despite international pressure.

“Yes, we are in combat -- keep morale high in this fight to disarm any traitor, any coup plotter,” Maduro said on Thursday at a televised event with the military high command, at which he was surrounded by soldiers.

“No one can be afraid — it is the hour to defend our right to peace,” he said at a ceremony attended by 4,500 military personnel, according to the government.

Defence minister General Vladimir Padrino said: “We’ve come to ratify our loyalty... to the supreme commander of the armed forces, who is our president, President Nicolas Maduro.”     — AFP