Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said five members of the military were injured as a result of the violent clashes in Caracas between the government's security forces and protesters responding to the opposition leader's call for an uprising
MEXICO CITY (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2019) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said five members of the military were injured as a result of the violent clashes in Caracas between the government's security forces and protesters responding to the opposition leader's call for an uprising.
On Tuesday, opposition leader Juan Guaido, who had illegally proclaimed himself president of the country, called on Venezuela's civilians and the military to act against the government. Violent clashes between pro-Guaido protesters and the government's security forces ensued.
"We have five injured members of the military as a result of the events at Altamira Square. Two are in critical condition," Maduro said on Tuesday in a tv Venezuela broadcast.
Maduro said that three police officers had also received injuries during the clashes.
On Wednesday, Maduro said that he had ordered an investigation into the attempted coup initiated by Guiado.
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.
