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Protests intensify in Venezuela as sections of army back opposition leader Guaido

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Venezuelan opposition supporters have been holding mass protests, a day after violent clashes with government forces.

“We will keep going with more strength than ever,” opposition leader Juan Guaidó tweeted. Pro-government rallies are also taking place.

The rival demonstrations come after President Nicolás Maduro said he had stopped an “attempted coup” on Tuesday.

Mr Guaidó says he is backed by members of the armed forces, but Mr Maduro insists he still has their support.

In a fiery television address on Tuesday, Mr Maduro accused protesters of “serious crimes” which he said would “not go unpunished”, and said the US was plotting against him.

Mr Guaidó declared himself Venezuela’s interim leader in January and has been recognised by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and most in Latin America.

But Mr Maduro – backed by Russia, China and the top of the country’s military – has refused to cede leadership to his rival.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said military action was “possible” if necessary but that the US would prefer a peaceful transition of power. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the US against further “aggressive” steps.

The UN meanwhile called on both sides to exercise “maximum restraint”.

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Addressing his supporters in Caracas, Mr Guaidó called the protests an “irreversible process” and vowed to continue demonstrations every day “to achieve freedom”.

“We are on the right track, there is no turning back,” he said.

He also said there would be a series of staggered strikes starting on Thursday and culminating in a general strike.

Local media report gunfire in Altamira, a neighbourhood in east Caracas where the opposition regularly gathers.

There were also clashes on a highway close to an airbase in the east of the capital, with protesters driving a van through the perimeter fence.

National Guard on motorbikes fired tear gas at the demonstrators.

Some demonstrators threw stones, while others have been seen making Molotov cocktails.

Demonstrations have taken place in all 23 states of Venezuela as well as in Caracas, NGOs and local media say.

PHOTOS/COURTESY

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Milton Nyakundi

Milton Nyakundi is a veteran multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience across broadcast, digital, and print media, who relocated to the United States in 2022 and is now the Senior International Correspondent for Kurunzi News based in Washington, DC, USA. He has previously worked with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), among other high-profile roles with Kenya's first privately-owned media outlet - Kenya Television Network. His experience also include prominent roles as Media Consultant for Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and StarTimes Kenya. His career spans high‑stakes political reporting covering legislative and constitutional issues, elections, governance, and accountability across Kenya, Africa, and global arenas. He also boasts extensive sports journalism experience, covering local and international sports events, including leagues, tournaments and sports governance. He is well-known for his investigative depth, editorial leadership, and evidence-driven journalism that guides his consistent delivery of public‑interest storytelling across platforms.

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