FOUR DIE IN CLASHES
Lopez’s comments came after two days of upheaval in the OPEC nation, which is undergoing a hyper inflationary economic collapse marked by shortages of food and medicine.
Tens of thousands took to the streets across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday, heeding Guaido’s call to keep the pressure on Maduro. Clashes with security forces left four dead, along with hundreds injured or detained.
Maduro, in his early morning speech, sought to reject claims by the United States and the opposition that the armed forces high command was prepared to turn against him to allow Guaido to form a transition government and call elections. US officials have said Venezuela’s military high command was in discussions with the Supreme Court and representatives of Guaido over Maduro’s exit. Elliott Abrams, the US special envoy for Venezuela, told broadcaster VPI on Wednesday that Maduro cannot trust his top military leaders.
US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Tuesday said Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, along with the Supreme Court’s chief justice and the commander of the presidential guard, had told the opposition Maduro needed to leave power.
But Padrino stood beside Maduro, who took over from the late President Hugo Chavez in 2013, in Thursday’s address.
“Do not come to buy us with a dishonest offer, as if we do not have dignity,” Padrino said.
Military operations chief Remigio Ceballos also appeared in the broadcast.
NEXT STEPS
The military is seen as key in Venezuela’s standoff.
REUTERS