BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2019) The Lima Group countries in a joint communique issued following its meeting on Tuesday once again called on the Venezuelan armed forces to support opposition leader Juan Guaido, who had illegally proclaimed himself president of the country.
"The governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela ... Once again call on the Venezuelan national armed forces to demonstrate their loyalty to acting President Juan Guaido," the document said.
The Lima Group called on the world community to closely monitor recent developments in Venezuela and to offer its political and diplomatic support to the Venezuelan people. The next meeting of the Lima Group will be held on May 3 in Peru.
On Tuesday morning, Guaido and his supporters gathered in Caracas on a highway in front of La Carlota military base. Previously, Guaido called on the people of Venezuela and the army to take to the streets to complete the operation to overthrow the legitimate head of state, Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro has already said that the armed forces remained loyal to the authorities of the country. According to the Russian embassy in Caracas, after the attempted coup, the situation in the city remains calm under full control of the authorities and the military has not taken the side of the opposition.
Large-scale protests against Maduro began in Venezuela on January 21 soon after he was sworn in for a new term. Guaido proclaimed himself an interim leader of the country. A number of Western countries, including the United States, backed 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 only legitimate president of Venezuela.
