MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2019) New US Special Envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams led the 2002 failed coup in the Latin American country, former US presidential candidate from the Green Party Jill Stein said.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced appointment of Abrams, who served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, as the special envoy to Venezuela. Abrams was criticized for supporting Contras in Nicaragua and the El Salvador military as both were accused of major human rights abuses during military conflicts.
"[US President Donald] Trump's Venezuela point man Elliott Abrams: backed death squads in Latin America that murdered 1000s for right-wing dictators; lied to Congress to cover up treasonous Iran-Contra affair; led 2002 US coup attempt in Venezuela. Still think this is about democracy & human rights?" Stein wrote on her Twitter page on late Friday.
On Tuesday, the situation in Venezuela escalated when the opposition-controlled National Assembly declared that President Maduro had usurped power. National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president on the following day.
The United States along with some other states recognized Guaido, after which Maduro called the opposition leader a US puppet and accused the United States of organizing a coup in Venezuela. The Venezuelan president also decided to cut off diplomatic relations with the United States and asked US diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours. However, the United States has refused to withdraw its diplomats.
On April 12, 2002, then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was ousted as a result of a coup, however, he managed to return to power with the support of his allies and loyal military units just in two days.
