Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday urged the nation to demonstrate "nerves of steel" in resisting the US interference in the country's internal affairs by holding a big rally on May Day
BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2019) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday urged the nation to demonstrate "nerves of steel" in resisting the US interference in the country's internal affairs by holding a big rally on May Day.As Labour Day is celebrated around the world on May 1, both Maduro supporters and opposition representatives have started gathering for demonstrations in Caracas and other cities. It comes a day after US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido called on Venezuelans and the country's military to join what he described as the final phase of overthrowing the legitimate government. Clashes ensued on Tuesday as a result but the Venezuelan military has remained loyal to the Maduro government.
"Today, Venezuela's working class is mobilizing across the country to celebrate its day [May Day] and defend its achievements by organizing a big march to say 'no' to the coup, to say 'no' to the Yankees' intervention. Nerves of steel, calm and sanity! Long live the workers of the Motherland," Maduro wrote on Twitter.
The situation remains tense in Venezuela months after Guaido illegally declared himself the country's interim president after disputing Maduro's re-election in May 2018. Washington immediately endorsed Guaido, called on Maduro to step down and seized billions of Dollars' worth of the country's oil assets. Maduro, in turn, has accused Washington of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido and take over Venezuela's natural resources. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.
Amid Tuesday's events, which Caracas has described as a failed coup attempt, US National Security Adviser John Bolton reiterated that "all options are on the table" with regard to Venezuela, adding, however, that Washington hoped to see a peaceful transfer of power.
