from Venezuela Analysis
“Interim President” Juan Guaido and right-wing opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez spearheaded an unsuccessful coup attempt in Caracas on Tuesday.
The thwarted uprising
started in the early morning hours when renegade military and
intelligence officers reportedly released Lopez from house arrest. Lopez
then joined Guaido and a handful of soldiers on the Altamira overpass
in east Caracas, outside the Francisco de Miranda airbase, known as La
Carlota.
Lopez and Guaido released videos on social media, calling on the
armed forces to back their efforts and urging supporters to take to the
streets, in what they termed as the “final phase” of the so-called
“Operation Freedom.” Large crowds of anti-government protesters, as well
as opposition lawmakers, made their way to the Altamira overpass.
The scene then saw armed confrontations between the soldiers that
backed Juan Guaido and those inside La Carlota airbase. According to
witnesses in La Carlota, the Venezuelan armed forces fired tear gas
towards the Altamira overpass, where civilian protesters began to
gather, whereas Guaido’s soldiers returned live fire. Riot police also
appeared on the scene to try and disperse the crowds. There are reports
of protesters wounded and arrested that are unconfirmed at the time of
writing...
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