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VENEZUELA-US-ATTACK-PROTEST
Venezuela calls march against US after reported coup bid
CARACAS, Sept 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Venezuela’s government announced it
would hold a massive march Tuesday against US meddling after reports that US
officials met secretly with Venezuelan military officers to discuss plans to
oust President Nicolas Maduro.
The United States “acknowledges having met at least three times with
military coup leaders to carry out a coup,” said Diosdado Cabello, speaker of
the ruling Constituent Assembly that runs the country.
At an event by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV),
Cabello also drew a direct connection with the drone explosions on August 4
at a military parade Maduro was leading.
“The presidential assassination that was stopped was led by the United
States. Is there anyone who has any doubt?” Cabello asked.
US officials decided against taking action after the meetings, according
to The New York Times. The newspaper did not, however, link these discussion
to the exploding drones case. On Twitter, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said
it was “absolutely unacceptable and unjustifiable that US government
officials participate in meetings to encourage and promote violent actions of
extremists.”
Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States have been
tense since late former socialist President Hugo Chavez came to power in
1999. He was president until his death in 2013.
Both Chavez and Maduro, his successor, have accused Washington of dozens
of alleged conspiracies and assassination attempts.
The Trump administration calls Maduro a “dictator” and has been critical
of the government in the midst of the serious Venezuelan crisis. It has
imposed financial sanctions on Venezuela and its state oil company PDVSA.
Venezuela also accuses the United States of spurring on its emigration
crisis to embarrass Caracas, which has the world’s largest proven oil
reserves but is in full economic collapse.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0849 hrs