Venezuelan Defense Minister Calls Opposition's Attempt To Organize Coup Act Of Terrorism

The attempt of the Venezuelan opposition to organize a coup can be described as a terrorist act, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Tuesday

BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2019) The attempt of the Venezuelan opposition to organize a coup can be described as a terrorist act, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Tuesday.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido urged Venezuelan civilians and servicemen earlier in the day to take to the streets to help depose legitimate President Nicolas Maduro.

"We can characterize this act as an act of terrorism ... An act of cowardice and terrorism," Lopez said as broadcast by the VTV channel.

He noted that a small group of military and police officers stole cars and weapons, but were shortly found by the military, supporting Maduro, in the district of Altamira in Caracas.

"We hold the opposition responsible for all acts of violence. We demand that the violence stop," Lopez stressed.

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 as its puppet. Russia, China, and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.