Venezuelan Authorities Confronting Military Personnel Who Call For Coup - Minister

Venezuelan authorities are dealing with the military personnel who are calling for a coup, Venezuelan Minister for Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez said Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2019) Venezuelan authorities are dealing with the military personnel who are calling for a coup, Venezuelan Minister for Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez said Tuesday.

"We are telling the people of Venezuela that at this moment we are standing up to a small group of military personnel, the traitors, who are at Distribuidor Altamira highway exit and are promoting a coup against constitution and peace in the republic," Rodriguez said on Twitter.

The statement was made after opposition leader Juan Guaido urged Venezuelan civilians and armed forces to take to the streets to help depose President Nicolas Maduro.

Guaido added that the military personnel who supported him could expect the people to back them.

Large-scale protests against Maduro began in Venezuela on January 21 soon after he was sworn in for a new term. Guaido proclaimed himself an interim leader of the country. A number of Western countries, including the United States, backed his claim. Maduro, in turn, has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido and take over Venezuela's natural resources. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.