Three Venezuelan National Guard Officers Defect To Colombia - Reports

Three servicemen of the Venezuelan National Guard broke through the cordons on the country's western border early on Saturday in two armored vehicles and defected to Colombia, local media reported

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd February, 2019) Three servicemen of the Venezuelan National Guard broke through the cordons on the country's western border early on Saturday in two armored vehicles and defected to Colombia, local media reported.

Earlier in the day, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez announced that Caracas temporarily closed three bridges connecting Venezuela and Colombia to prevent opposition's attempts to bring unauthorized humanitarian aid from the Colombian border city of Cucuta, one of the hubs accumulating assistance for Venezuelans, notably, from the United States.

According to the VPI tv channel, the servicemen crossed the cordoned off Simon Bolivar bridge, located just over 6 miles to the southeast of Cucuta, and surrendered to Colombian authorities.

US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself president in January, set Saturday as the date for bringing in the relief aid.

President Nicolas Maduro, however, refused to allow US aid into the country, since he accuses Washington of trying to oust him from power. On Thursday, Maduro said that Caracas agreed to accept over 2.3 billion worth of aid from the European Union, which will be delivered through the United Nations.

Earlier that day, the president announced the complete closure of Venezuela's land border with Brazil, collecting foreign aid for its neighbor as well. Authorities also warned that the country could close the borders with Colombia and Curacao Island, located off Venezuela's northern coast and serving as another place for the accumulation of assistance for Venezuela.