Maduro Says Assassination Attempt Aimed To Bring Junta To Power In Venezuela

Maduro Says Assassination Attempt Aimed to Bring Junta to Power in Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday that those who made an attempt to assassinate him had been aiming to bring a junta to power.

MEXICO CITY (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th August, 2018) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday that those who made an attempt to assassinate him had been aiming to bring a junta to power.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab said that 14 out of 34 suspects were arrested in connection with the attempted assassination, adding that some of those at large were hiding abroad. Among those arrested, he mentioned two high-ranking Venezuelan military officers and opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens. The official noted that charges against the latter were based on video and audio evidence, confessions and testimonies.

"Their goal was to assassinate not only Nicolas Maduro but also the high-level political leadership in order to immediately form a transitional junta government out of nothing amid the moment of turmoil and pain," Maduro said, broadcast by the state tv.

Later in the day, Requesens lawyer Joel Garcia twitted that his client pleaded not guilty.

"I declare myself innocent. This regime is underpinned by two elements - the power of force ... and, secondly, the judiciary branch, which you represent," Requesens statement in court read, as quoted by Garcia on Twitter.

Maduro was attending a military parade in Caracas on August 4. His address was interrupted by what the authorities said was an assassination attempt as two explosives-laden drones detonated close to the presidential box. The president was unharmed, but several soldiers were injured in the incident.