WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd February, 2019) The United States has restricted government personnel in Venezuela to the vicinity of the US Embassy to avoid nationwide protests that are scheduled to begin on February 22, the State Department said in an alert on Thursday.
US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido has called for nationwide protests to support the delivery of humanitarian aid from the United States which is supposed to arrive in Venezuela via Columbia on February 23.
"The movement of US government personnel will be restricted to the vicinity of the US Embassy," the alert said. "US government personnel are advised to avoid the area of demonstrations and large gatherings. US citizens should also avoid demonstrations and large gatherings."
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro so far has refused to accept the US aid, blasting it as a ploy to topple his government.
The International Center of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Columbia last week said it would not help distribute the goods because it does not consider the US assistance to be true humanitarian aid. ICRC officials and the UN Secretary-General's office have urged Washington not to politicize humanitarian assistance and not to deliver aid without the consent of Venezuelan government authorities.
Guaido escalated Venezuela's political crisis last month by declaring himself interim president, with US support, which prompted Maduro to accuse Washington of trying to orchestrate a coup. Russia, China, Mexico, among other nations, have reaffirmed their support for Maduro as the country's only legitimate head of state. In addition, the United Nations also still recognizes Maduro as Venezuela's president.
