Clashes On Venezuelan-Colombian Border Continued Sunday With Participation Of Migrants

Clashes on Venezuelan-Colombian Border Continued Sunday With Participation of Migrants

Clashes on the border of Venezuela and Colombia continued on Sunday with the participation of Venezuelan migrants who were trying to get back into their country, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene

CARACAS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2019) Clashes on the border of Venezuela and Colombia continued on Sunday with the participation of Venezuelan migrants who were trying to get back into their country, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene.

These clashes between Venezuelan law enforcement officers, who tried to prevent aid-filled trucks from crossing the country's border without permission, and protesters were the result of the opposition's attempts to bring in unauthorized US aid into Venezuela on Saturday. These attempts also prompted Caracas to sever diplomatic and political relations with neighboring Colombia. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly stated that the aid deliveries are a ploy to topple his government.

As a result of Caracas' decision to close border with Colombia, many Venezuelans remained in Colombia's border town of Cucuta, unable to return to their country. Since all the border bridges were blocked, they tried to cross the Tachira River, which separates the eponymous Venezuelan state and the Colombian department of the North Santander. A group of protesters joined the migrants, demanding that Venezuelan authorities accept the humanitarian aid.

The Venezuelan National Guard used tear gas against this group that was attempting to illegally cross the border.

In response, the group threw stones at the border guards.

During the attempted delivery of humanitarian aid on the border with Colombia on Saturday, several trucks were burnt. According to Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), 335 people were injured as a result of clashes between law enforcement officers and protesters on Venezuela's borders with Colombia and Brazil.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has dismissed allegations about a humanitarian crisis in the country and recalled that the international law provided for the deliveries of foreign humanitarian aid only in cases of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Caracas has also warned that any vehicle that would illegally enter the Venezuelan territory would be considered as offender by the country's military officers.

The situation in crisis-torn Venezuela escalated on January 23 when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president, disputing last year's re-election of Maduro. Guaido was almost immediately recognized by the United States and some other countries. Russia, China and Mexico, among other nations, voiced support for Maduro, who, in turn, called Guaido Washington's puppet.