Venezuela's self-declared interim leader Juan Guaido has called on the military to desert President Nicolas Maduro and urged his supporters to 'extend a hand of friendship' to defecting soldiers
Addressing a crowd of thousands on Friday, Guaido hinted at the inevitability of a changeover of power, calling for further 'mass demonstrations' until a transitional government is formed
'They can cut a flower, but they will never keep spring from coming,' he said, alluding to a similar phrase from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda
'They think this movement will deflate, that we will grow tired. But nobody here will tire, nobody will give in
Venezuela has awoken and it will never fall asleep again,' Guaido declared.But it may fall on deaf ears as
In a televised speech, defence minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, a general, accused Guaido of attempting a 'coup d'etat' and said Maduro, 56, is 'the legitimate president
'Eight further generals who command of strategic regions of the country reiterated their 'absolute loyalty and subordination' to the socialist leader in messages carried on state television
Padrino also offered a warning to the US not to intervene in what he called an assault 'against our democracy'
Representatives from both the dueling Presidents will face-off today at a United Nations Security Council Meeting
The council will meet in open session in New York at 9am (1400 GMT), Saturday.The U
S, which orchestrated the meeting, has offered Guaido its full support, but its motion to focus the discussion on Venezuela has been strongly opposed by Russia
Russia wants the discussion generalized to threats to international peace and security, amid reports that it has sent military contractors to Venezuela to bolster Maduro's security
Well-informed council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said there is expected to be a procedural vote called for by Russia
But they said the U.S. is expected to win the vote and go ahead with the meeting focused on Venezuela
Ahead of the public meeting, the United States circulated a draft Security Council statement
The draft, seen by Reuters, said: 'As conditions in the Republic of Venezuela continue to deteriorate, the Security Council expresses its full support for the National Assembly as Venezuela's only democratically elected institution
'If the council backed the statement, it would effectively recognize Guaido as Venezuela's head of state
However, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday that Moscow would oppose the move
Council statements must be agreed by consensus. Before Washington circulated the draft statement to council members late on Friday, Nebenzia told Reuters: 'That will not pass
For us nothing changes.'The draft statement also 'calls for the immediate start of a political process that leads to free, fair and credible elections with international electoral observation in the shortest possible time
' Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza is on the speakers list, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also expected to address the 15-strong meeting
Pompeo has appointed Elliot Abrams, a hawkish former Republican official, to handle American policy toward Venezuela
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Meanwhile Maduro is refusing to concede power and has accused opponents of orchestrating a coup
'This is nothing more than a coup d'etat, ordered, promoted, financed and supported by the government of the United States,' he said Friday
Some American diplomats evacuated the country yesterday, after Maduro broke diplomatic ties with Washington and ordered them to leave
The Trump administration is now attempting to cut off Maduro's funding streams, according to to National Security Adviser John Bolton
'[The government of the United States] intend to put a puppet government in Venezuela, destroy the state and take colonial control of the country,' Maduro said
But he added that he was still willing to talk with the country's opposition even if he 'had to go naked
' This proposition was rejected by Guaido, who said he was not interested in 'fake dialogue' and would instead consider offering the man he calls 'El Usurpador' (The Usurper) amnesty and a safe passage out of the country
Both sides attempted dialogue last year, but it fell apart as Maduro pushed forward with an early election that the country's most popular opposition leaders were barred from running in
Many in the international community condemned that vote and now consider the National Assembly - which is led by Guaido and which Maduro has stripped of its power - the only legitimate institution
As tensions continue to bubble, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said it was granting precautionary measures to protect Guaido and his family
The organisation said his life, personal integrity and personal freedom are at 'urgent and grave risk
' The situation in the south American country reached boiling point this week when National Assembly leader Guaido declared himself the country's leader at a protest in the capital Caracas on Wednesday
His leadership was swiftly recognized by the United States and about a dozen regional governments, including those of Brazil, Argentina and Colombia
But anger had long since been building as a deep depression marked by hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine triggered an exodus of Venezuelans to surrounding countries
Guaido's move is the most direct challenge to Maduro's rule despite years of protests at home and international efforts to isolate the regime amid a growing humanitarian crisis fueled by falling oil prices and government mismanagement
As well as the U.S, Guaido has the support of Canada, Britain and the EU. Closer to home, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Chile have also recognised his legitimacy
Mexico, Cuba and Bolivia, all in the hands of leftist governments, pledged support for Maduro, as Russia, China and Iran
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his support in a phone call. Putin 'expressed support to the legitimate government of Venezuela amid the acute political crisis that has been provoked from the outside', the Kremlin said
Both Guaido and Maduro remain determined to defend their claims to the presidency no matter what, with Guaido telling supporters that if he is arrested they should 'stay the course' and peacefully protest
But the standoff could set the scene for more violence and has plunged troubled Venezuela into a new chapter of political turmoil that rights groups say has already left more than two dozen dead
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet's office said Friday it has credible reports that security forces or members of pro-government armed groups have shot at least 20 people during protests on Tuesday and Wednesday and is calling for an investigation
The total figure is likely higher: The Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict says 21 people were killed by gunfire in protests and looting on Wednesday and Thursday, on top of five deaths authorities confirmed Tuesday
The Penal Forum human rights group says that 369 people have been detained since Monday
'The international community is watching more closely than ever before, so Venezuelan security forces - and those commanding them - should know they will be held to account for any abuses,' Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter
Guaido has said he'd be willing to talk with any party willing to discuss restoring democracy, but short of that, he said there would be more protests
'There will be people on the street,' Guaido clamored, 'until we get freedom'. Which countries are supporting Venezuela's opposition? Supporting 'interim' President Juan Guaido: United StatesCanadaUnited Kingdom ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaGuatemalaHondurasPanamaParaguayPeru Kosovo The EU 27 Supporting incumbent President Nicolas Maduro:RussiaChinaIranCubaMexico Turkey Syria Bolivia Uruguay
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