An armed group attacked a checkpoint of the Venezuelan National Guard on the border with Colombia but was successfully repelled, the Venezuelan army said on Monday
CARACAS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2019) An armed group attacked a checkpoint of the Venezuelan National Guard on the border with Colombia but was successfully repelled, the Venezuelan army said on Monday."More than 60 well-armed persons attacked the Mulata border checkpoint between the state of Tachira and Colombia with grenades," the statement says.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, it added.
In turn, Freddy Bernal, appointed by Venezuelan central authorities to the position of the so-called "defender" of the state of Tachira, said that a detachment of 20 troops, which arrived promptly, helped to repel the attack.
Attempts to bring in unauthorized aid into Venezuela from neighboring Colombia culminated in clashes on Saturday between Venezuelan law enforcement officers, who tried to prevent aid-filled trucks from crossing the country's border without permission, and protesters. These attempts also prompted Caracas to sever diplomatic and political relations with Bogota. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said he believes that the aid deliveries are a ploy to topple his government.
This past month has seen Venezuela going through a political crisis. It started on January 5, when Guaido was elected as president of the Venezuelan unicameral legislature, the opposition-run National Assembly, whose authority has not been recognized by any other branch of power since 2016. On January 23, shortly after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled Guaido's election as the National Assembly's head, the opposition leader proclaimed himself acting Venezuelan president.
Maduro, whose new presidential term, disputed by the opposition that boycotted the election, began on January 10, viewed Guaido's provocative actions as an attempted coup and blamed the United States for preparing it.
Guaido's self-proclamation was soon recognized by the United States, followed by about 50 of its allies. Bolivia China, Cuba, Russia and many other countries still support Maduro's legitimate government. Mexico and Uruguay are among the nations that have refused to recognize Guaido and declared themselves neutral, promoting dialogue as a means of resolving the crisis in the country.
