Brazilian President To Convene Emergency Meeting On Venezuela - Vice President

Brazilian President to Convene Emergency Meeting on Venezuela - Vice President

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will hold an emergency government meeting later on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Venezuela, Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao said on Tuesday

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2019) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will hold an emergency government meeting later on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Venezuela, Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao said on Tuesday.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido urged Venezuelan civilians and servicemen earlier in the day to take to the streets to help depose President Nicolas Maduro. In response, Maduro said that the commanders of all regions and zones of integral defense had reiterated their full loyalty to the people, constitution and homeland. According to Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, the country's armed forces continue to firmly support the "constitution and legitimate authorities."

"The president will hold a meeting on the [Venezuela] issue in the afternoon," Mourao said, as quoted by the Globo portal.

According to the vice president, representatives of defense and foreign ministries, and the National Defense Council will attend the meeting.

Large-scale protests against Maduro began in Venezuela on January 21 soon after he was sworn in for a new term. Guaido proclaimed himself interim president soon afterward, with a number of Western countries, including the United States, immediately backing his claim. Maduro, in turn, has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido as its puppet. Russia, China, and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.