South America

Caracas expels German envoy for backing Guaido as US tightens sanctions

by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela expelled Germany’s ambassador Wednesday, hitting out at international support for opposition leader Juan Guaido as the US stepped up sanctions in a bid to force out his rival President Nicolas Maduro. Separately, Washington called for the “immediate release” of an American journalist reported to have been detained in Caracas, an incident which could further escalate tensions between Maduro and the administration of US President Donald Trump. […]

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US to punish foreign entities funding Venezuela’s Maduro

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will impose sanctions on foreign institutions helping to finance embattled far-left Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the White House said Wednesday. The measure, announced by President Donald Trump’s national security advisor John Bolton, is the latest tightening of screws in Washington’s campaign to force Maduro from power. “The United States is putting foreign financial institutions on notice that they will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate […]

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Guaido says Venezuela government silence due to ‘contradictions’

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro kept his silence Tuesday more than 24 hours after opposition leader Juan Guaido, defying a threat of arrest, returned to a hero’s welcome in Caracas. “They’re drowning in contradictions, they don’t know how to respond to Venezuela’s people,” Guaido told reporters, referring to the Maduro regime. Guaido, recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela’s acting president, flouted a government travel ban to embark on a 10-day tour of […]

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Hero’s welcome as opposition leader Guaido returns to Venezuela

by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido received a hero’s welcome from thousands of flag-waving supporters chanting “Yes, you can!” as he returned to Caracas on Monday, defying the threat of arrest from embattled President Nicolas Maduro’s government. “We know the risks we face, that’s never stopped us. The regime, the dictatorship must understand,” a defiant Guaido, who has been recognized as acting president by more […]

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Guaido calls for mass protests ahead of return to Venezuela Monday

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s opposition leader called for mass protests across the country on Monday as he announced his return to the country after a week touring Latin American allies. “I’m announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT),” Guaido said on Twitter. Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president, gave […]

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Guaido rallies support, vows to return to Venezuela ‘despite threats’

by Jordi MIRO Agence France Presse BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido vowed on Thursday to return home “in the coming days… despite threats” from President Nicolas Maduro’s regime, as he continues a tour of regional allies to rally international support. Guaido, recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, met with Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday afternoon while Paraguay’s leader Mario Abdo announced Guaido would be in Asuncion on […]

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US Navy’s version of F-35 jet ‘ready for combat’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Navy’s version of the F-35 stealth fighter jet is “ready for combat,” officials said Thursday, marking another milestone in the development of the most expensive weapons program ever. “The F-35C is ready for operations, ready for combat and ready to win,” Vice Admiral DeWolfe Miller, who commands Naval Air Forces, said in a statement. “We are adding an incredible weapon system into the arsenal of our Carrier Strike […]

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Venezuela’s Guaido to meet Bolsonaro in Brazil

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido is due to meet Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia on Thursday, sources from both camps said. Guaido, recognized as interim president by 50 countries, will travel to the Brazilian capital on Wednesday evening from Colombia, where he has stayed since Friday despite a travel ban imposed by the regime of Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. Brazil and Colombia are Guaido allies that have been […]

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China, Russia urge against military action in Venezuela

The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers voiced their opposition to military action in Venezuela on Wednesday, as President Nicolas Maduro faces increasing pressure from the United States to step down. Russia and China, which have had close relations with Maduro over the years, have repeatedly warned against any foreign interference in Venezuela, while Washington has backed the opposition leader. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated Moscow’s assertion that the United States was using aid deliveries […]

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Chaos turns to uncertainty at Venezuela border

by Esteban ROJAS Agence France Presse UREÑA, Venezuela (AFP) — Bloody violence may have subsided for now at Venezuela’s blockaded border, but for local people, terror has turned to anxiety about how they will reach the schools and shops they depend on. In the Venezuelan border town of Urena, Kelly Pinto stared at the Santander Bridge leading to Colombia — now blocked by a white armored truck. Like many of her neighbors, she was wondering […]

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Venezuela’s Guaido and Pence agree to tighten noose on Maduro

by Hector Velasco Agence France Presse BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — US Vice President Mike Pence and Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido agreed on a strategy to tighten the noose around President Nicolas Maduro following a meeting with regional allies in Colombia on Monday. “We hope for a peaceful transition to democracy but President Trump has made it clear: all options are on the table,” said Pence, who passed on Trump’s “100 percent” support to Guaido. […]

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Venezuela border tensions turn violent amid aid distribution bid

President Nicolas Maduro’s security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday on a crowd awaiting the distribution of humanitarian aid at the Venezuela-Colombia border as tensions spiked ahead of an opposition deadline to bring in food and medical aid. “We want to work!” people chanted as they faced Venezuelan National Guard riot police blocking the crossing at the Urena border bridge to Colombia, one of several ordered closed Maduro late Friday. In the confusion, […]

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