Venezuela uprising live updates: Opposition leader Juan Guaido calls for military uprising against President Nicolas Maduro; Military commander calls it a "coup attempt" - CBS News

Video in the player above shows Venezuelan opposition supporters clashing with security forces.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó took to the streets with a small contingent of heavily armed troops early Tuesday in a bold attempt to lead a military uprising against President Nicolas Maduro.

The early-morning rebellion seems to have only limited military support, but it was by far the most serious challenge yet to Maduro's rule since Guaidó declared himself the country's interim president in January.

The dramatic events began Tuesday when Guaidó, flanked by a few dozen national guardsmen and some armored vehicles, released a three-minute video filmed near a Caracas air base in which he called on civilians and others in the armed forces to join a final push to topple Maduro.

"The moment is now," Guaido said in the video showing him accompanied by previously-detained activist Leopoldo Lopez.

Maduro's military commanders dismissed what it called a "coup attempt" in social media posts and said the Venezuelan army remained loyal to the president.

Live updates:

UN chief urges "maximum restraint"

The U.N. says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging all sides in Venezuela to exercise "maximum restraint," avoid any violence and take immediate steps to restore calm. Guterres' "message publicly and privately has been to push for dialogue in order to resolve this peacefully," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday.

Dujarric said the U.N. is "reaching out to both sides." He noted that Guterres met Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza last week and met Monday with the Lima group of countries supporting Guaidó. Dujarric also said the U.N. is taking measures to ensure the safety of its staff in the country.

Street clashes erupt

Venezuela's Juan Guaidó calls for military uprising

Anti-government demonstrators clashed with troops loyal to Maduro at an air base in Caracas, the country's capital, hours after Guaidó's attempt to lead a military uprising.

Video showed unrest, including clashes.

NBC News tweeted a video it said showed an armored military vehicle ramming into pro-Guaidó protesters in the city.

Internet restrictions reported in Venezuela

Venezuela's state run internet provider has been restricting access to YouTube and Google services following the opposition leader's call for the military to revolt against Maduro, a group that monitors internet censorship said.

The non-governmental NetBlocks group said access to the services remains intermittently available since the restrictions don't appear to be completely effective. It said Twitter, Facebook and several other services were briefly restricted earlier, although core internet connectivity remains unaffected.

The group said past incidents of network filtering in Venezuela have lasted from 12 minutes to over 20 hours.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Defense minister rejects attempt by "subversive movement"

The events appear not to have triggered a broader military revolt. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Twitter rejected what he called an attempt by a "subversive movement" to generate "panic and terror."

The ruling socialist party chief, Diosdado Cabello, said most of Caracas was calm and called on government supporters to amass at the presidential palace to defend Maduro from what he said was a U.S.-backed coup attempt. About a dozen government supporters, some of them brandishing firearms, gathered at the presidential palace, answered the call.

"It's time to defend the revolution with arms," Valentin Santana, head of a militant group, said in a video posted on social media as he brandished an automatic rifle.

Meanwhile, Guaidó said he would release a list of top commanders supporting the uprising in the coming hours.

Putin discusses uprising with his top security body

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the ongoing uprising in Venezuela with his top security body. Putin raised the current developments in Venezuela during his scheduled meeting with the Security Council, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov said that the meeting "paid significant attention to the news reports about a coup attempt in that country." He did not elaborate further.

Pence: "We are with you!"

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted "We are with you!" Tuesday to the Venezuelans taking to the streets after Guaidó's call for an uprising.

"America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored," he added.

The U.S. and dozens of other countries have recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's rightful leader, arguing that Maduro's re-election was invalid.

To @jguaido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad-Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios! #FreeVenezuela

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 30, 2019

The White House later said it is "watching and waiting" on the situation in Venezuela and hoping the result is democracy.

It was unclear how much advance knowledge the Trump administration had of Guaido's plans for Tuesday, but President Trump's national security adviser John Bolton was first to tweet his support.

"The United States stands with the people of Venezuela," Bolton tweeted.

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2019-04-30 18:08:00Z
52780280474276

Venezuela uprising live updates: Opposition leader Juan Guaido calls for military uprising against President Nicolas Maduro, who calls it a "coup attempt" - CBS News

Video in the player above shows Venezuelan opposition supporters clashing with security forces.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó took to the streets with a small contingent of heavily armed troops early Tuesday in a bold attempt to lead a military uprising against President Nicolas Maduro.

The early-morning rebellion seems to have only limited military support, but it was by far the most serious challenge yet to Maduro's rule since Guaidó declared himself the country's interim president in January.

The dramatic events began Tuesday when Guaidó, flanked by a few dozen national guardsmen and some armored vehicles, released a three-minute video filmed near a Caracas air base in which he called on civilians and others in the armed forces to join a final push to topple Maduro.

"The moment is now," Guaido said in the video showing him accompanied by previously-detained activist Leopoldo Lopez.

Maduro's military commanders dismissed what it called a "coup attempt" in social media posts and said the Venezuelan army remained loyal to the president.

Live updates:

Street clashes erupt

Venezuela's Juan Guaidó calls for military uprising

Anti-government demonstrators clashed with troops loyal to Maduro at an air base in Caracas, the country's capital, hours after Guaidó's attempt to lead a military uprising.

Video showed unrest, including clashes.

NBC News tweeted a video it said showed an armored military vehicle ramming into pro-Guaidó protesters in the city.

Internet restrictions reported in Venezuela

Venezuela's state run internet provider has been restricting access to YouTube and Google services following the opposition leader's call for the military to revolt against Maduro, a group that monitors internet censorship said.

The non-governmental NetBlocks group said access to the services remains intermittently available since the restrictions don't appear to be completely effective. It said Twitter, Facebook and several other services were briefly restricted earlier, although core internet connectivity remains unaffected.

The group said past incidents of network filtering in Venezuela have lasted from 12 minutes to over 20 hours.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Defense minister rejects attempt by "subversive movement"

The events appear not to have triggered a broader military revolt. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Twitter rejected what he called an attempt by a "subversive movement" to generate "panic and terror."

The ruling socialist party chief, Diosdado Cabello, said most of Caracas was calm and called on government supporters to amass at the presidential palace to defend Maduro from what he said was a U.S.-backed coup attempt. About a dozen government supporters, some of them brandishing firearms, gathered at the presidential palace, answered the call.

"It's time to defend the revolution with arms," Valentin Santana, head of a militant group, said in a video posted on social media as he brandished an automatic rifle.

Meanwhile, Guaidó said he would release a list of top commanders supporting the uprising in the coming hours.

Putin discusses uprising with his top security body

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the ongoing uprising in Venezuela with his top security body. Putin raised the current developments in Venezuela during his scheduled meeting with the Security Council, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov said that the meeting "paid significant attention to the news reports about a coup attempt in that country." He did not elaborate further.

Pence: "We are with you!"

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted "We are with you!" Tuesday to the Venezuelans taking to the streets after Guaidó's call for an uprising.

"America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored," he added.

The U.S. and dozens of other countries have recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's rightful leader, arguing that Maduro's re-election was invalid.

To @jguaido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad-Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios! #FreeVenezuela

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 30, 2019

The White House later said it is "watching and waiting" on the situation in Venezuela and hoping the result is democracy.

It was unclear how much advance knowledge the Trump administration had of Guaido's plans for Tuesday, but President Trump's national security adviser John Bolton was first to tweet his support.

"The United States stands with the people of Venezuela," Bolton tweeted.

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2019-04-30 16:55:00Z
52780280474276

Live Updates: Clashes Flare After Venezuela Opposition Leader Calls for Military Uprising - The New York Times

• Clashes between anti-government protesters and law enforcement officers erupted in Caracas on Tuesday after the Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, appeared alongside soldiers at a military base and called for the population to rise up against the president, Nicolás Maduro.

• While Mr. Guaidó has exhorted the Venezuela military to join his side since he declared himself interim president more than three months ago, it was a new step for him to make the declaration with men in uniform by his side. Still, it was unclear how much of the military supports him.

• The Trump administration, which has backed Mr. Guaidó since he first declared himself interim president in January, expressed immediate support for his latest move. “Estamos con ustedes! We are with you!,” Vice President Mike Pence said in a Twitter post.

Opposition leader takes new step

Mr. Guaidó, whose effort to topple Mr. Maduro has made little headway since he declared himself interim president in January, took a new step by making his case publicly at a military base in the heart of the capital.

“Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men attached to the Constitution have followed our call,” Mr. Guaidó said in a video posted on social media, speaking from Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, a military airport in Caracas known as La Carlota.

Mr. Guaidó claimed that “the definitive end of the usurpation starts today,” but it was not clear how many civilians or soldiers would heed him.

Behind Mr. Guaidó stood Leopoldo López, a member of his party who received a nearly 14-year sentence after staging protests in 2014 and has been held by the government under house arrest. Mr. López did not speak in the video but issued messages on Twitter saying that he had been released by soldiers.

Image

Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez hugging a supporter after being released from house arrest.CreditRayner Pena/EPA, via Shutterstock

“I was released by the military on the order of the Constitution and President Guaidó,” he wrote in his first Twitter posts since 2017. “Everyone mobilize. It’s time to conquer for freedom.”

Speaking to reporters near the airstrip, Mr. Guaidó said that a wide swath of the military now backed him, including top commanders, but he declined to release their names.

“There are generals, there are lieutenant colonels, there are majors, there are colonels — it’s a reflection of the country,” he said.

Image

Troops loyal to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro launching tear gas from inside the air base.CreditFernando Llano/Associated Press

Maduro calls the move an attempted coup

President Maduro insisted in a Twitter post that the military was on his side, saying commanders had assured him of “their total loyalty to the people, to the Constitution and to the fatherland.”

Jorge Rodríguez, the government’s information minister, said on Twitter that government was “confronting and deactivating a small group of military traitors” that he said had taken over the base “to promote a coup.” He blamed the “coup-mongering ultraright,” which he said had pushed for a violent agenda for months in Venezuela.

Clashes spread in Caracas

National guard soldiers and policemen fought against anti-government protesters who were beginning to assemble for a protest in response to Mr. Guaidó’s call. Witnesses said tear gas canisters could be seen detonating near the military base.

The government and supporters of Mr. Guaidó had encircled Mr. Maduro’s presidential palace by midmorning.

Videos posted on social media showed a crowd of protesters approaching the air base, waving Venezuelan flags.

“I believe this is very important, but I see apathy and fear in people,” said one of the protesters, Mary Galaviz, 69. “We should not be afraid. In war there is death, but goals are achieved.”

Miriam Segovia, 52, another protester near the base, said she hoped that the armed forces would “put themselves on the side of the Constitution, so we can escape this misery, this hunger and lack of medication.”

Image

People wait in a long line for several hours to purchase hard-to-find butter and pasta, in January. The Venezuelan economy has been in steep decline since 2014.CreditMeridith Kohut for The New York Times

Venezuela’s economy is devastated

Battered by mismanagement, American sanctions and corruption, the Venezuelan economy has been in steep decline since 2014. Millions of people have emigrated, and the roughly 30 million who remain are plagued by hyperinflation and shortages of medicines, food, electricity and jobs.

Mr. Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, won re-election last year in a contest that was widely seen as fraudulent. In January, the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition and led by Mr. Guaidó, declared the election and the government illegitimate, leading Mr. Guaidó to claim to be the rightful, transitional leader.

More than 50 countries, including the United States and most of its close allies, recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Trump reiterates backing for Guaidó

On Tuesday morning, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated American support for the opposition, posting a message of encouragement on Twitter: “To @jgauido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad — Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios!”

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/world/americas/venezuela-coup-guaido-military.html

2019-04-30 16:03:39Z
52780280474276

Live Updates: Clashes Flare After Venezuela Opposition Leader Calls for Military Uprising - The New York Times

• Clashes between anti-government protesters and law enforcement officers erupted in Caracas on Tuesday after the Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, appeared alongside soldiers at a military base and called for the population to rise up against the president, Nicolás Maduro.

• While Mr. Guaidó has exhorted the Venezuela military to join his side since he declared himself interim president more than three months ago, it was a new step for him to make the declaration with men in uniform by his side. Still, it was unclear how much of the military supports him.

• The Trump administration, which has backed Mr. Guaidó since he first declared himself interim president in January, expressed immediate support for his latest move. “Estamos con ustedes! We are with you!,” Vice President Mike Pence said in a Twitter post.

Opposition leader takes new step

Mr. Guaidó, whose effort to topple Mr. Maduro has made little headway since he declared himself interim president in January, took a new step by making his case publicly at a military base in the heart of the capital.

“Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men attached to the Constitution have followed our call,” Mr. Guaidó said in a video posted on social media, speaking from Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, a military airport in Caracas known as La Carlota.

Mr. Guaidó claimed that “the definitive end of the usurpation starts today,” but it was not clear how many civilians or soldiers would heed him.

Image

Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez hugging a supporter after being released from house arrest.CreditRayner Pena/EPA, via Shutterstock

Behind Mr. Guaidó stood Leopoldo López, a member of his party who received a nearly 14-year sentence after staging protests in 2014 and has been held by the government under house arrest. Mr. López did not speak in the video but issued messages on Twitter saying that he had been released by soldiers.

“I was released by the military on the order of the Constitution and President Guaidó,” he wrote in his first Twitter posts since 2017. “Everyone mobilize. It’s time to conquer for freedom.”

Speaking to reporters near the airstrip, Mr. Guaidó said that a wide swath of the military now backed him, including top commanders, but he declined to release their names.

“There are generals, there are lieutenant colonels, there are majors, there are colonels — it’s a reflection of the country,” he said.

Image

Troops loyal to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro launching tear gas from inside the air base.CreditFernando Llano/Associated Press

Maduro calls the move an attempted coup

President Maduro insisted in a Twitter post that the military was on his side, saying commanders had assured him of “their total loyalty to the people, to the Constitution and to the fatherland.”

Jorge Rodríguez, the government’s information minister, said on Twitter that government was “confronting and deactivating a small group of military traitors” that he said had taken over the base “to promote a coup.” He blamed the “coup-mongering ultraright,” which he said had pushed for a violent agenda for months in Venezuela.

Clashes spread in Caracas

National guard soldiers and policemen fought against anti-government protesters who were beginning to assemble for a protest in response to Mr. Guaidó’s call. Witnesses said tear gas canisters could be seen detonating near the military base.

The government and supporters of Mr. Guaidó had encircled Mr. Maduro’s presidential palace by midmorning.

Videos posted on social media showed a crowd of protesters approaching the air base, waving Venezuelan flags.

Image

A member of the National Guard who supports Mr. Guaidó throwing a tear gas canister during a confrontation with guards loyal to Mr. Maduro.CreditYuri Cortez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

“I believe this is very important, but I see apathy and fear in people,” said one of the protesters, Mary Galaviz, 69. “We should not be afraid. In war there is death, but goals are achieved.”

Miriam Segovia, 52, another protester near the base, said she hoped that the armed forces would “put themselves on the side of the Constitution, so we can escape this misery, this hunger and lack of medication.”

Venezuela’s economy is devastated

Battered by mismanagement, American sanctions and corruption, the Venezuelan economy has been in steep decline since 2014. Millions of people have emigrated, and the roughly 30 million who remain are plagued by hyperinflation and shortages of medicines, food, electricity and jobs.

Mr. Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, won re-election last year in a contest that was widely seen as fraudulent. In January, the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition and led by Mr. Guaidó, declared the election and the government illegitimate, leading Mr. Guaidó to claim to be the rightful, transitional leader.

More than 50 countries, including the United States and most of its close allies, recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Trump reiterates backing for Guaidó

On Tuesday morning, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated American support for the opposition, posting a message of encouragement on Twitter: “To @jgauido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad — Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios!”

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/world/americas/venezuela-coup-guaido-military.html

2019-04-30 15:56:15Z
52780280474276

Clashes Flare After Venezuela Opposition Leader Calls for Military Uprising - The New York Times

Anti-government protesters and law enforcement officers clashed in Caracas on Tuesday after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó appeared alongside soldiers at a military base and called for the population to rise up against the president.

“Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men attached to the Constitution have followed our call,” Mr. Guaidó said in a video posted on social media, speaking from Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, a military airport in Caracas known as La Carlota, in a direct challenge to the government.

He has called before for the military to rise up against the government of President Nicolás Maduro, but doing so flanked by men in uniform, at a base in the heart of the capital, was a new step. With few exceptions, the military has so far protected Mr. Maduro.

Mr. Guaidó claimed that “the definitive end of the usurpation starts today,” but it was not clear how many civilians or soldiers would heed him.

“We are counting on the people of Venezuela today,” he said in the video. “The armed forces are clearly on the side of the people.”

Image

Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez hugging a supporter after being released from house arrest.CreditRayner Pena/EPA, via Shutterstock

Jorge Rodríguez, the government’s information minister, said on Twitter that government was “confronting and deactivating a small group of military traitors” that he said had taken over the base “to promote a coup.” He blamed the “coup-mongering ultraright,” which he said had pushed for a violent agenda for months in Venezuela.

Behind Mr. Guaidó, who has described himself since January as the country’s interim president, stood Leopoldo López, a member of his party who received a nearly 14-year sentence after staging protests in 2014 and has been held by the government under house arrest. Mr. López did not speak in the video but issued messages on Twitter saying that he had been released by soldiers.

“I was released by the military on the order of the Constitution and President Guaidó,” he wrote in his first Twitter posts since 2017. “Everyone mobilize. It’s time to conquer for freedom.”

Speaking to reporters near the airstrip, Mr. Guaidó said that a wide swath of the military now backed him, including top commanders, but he declined to release their names.

“There are generals, there are lieutenant colonels, there are majors, there are colonels — it’s a reflection of the country,” he said.

Mr. Guaidó said he had had no communication with Mr. Maduro.

The government and supporters of Mr. Guaidó appeared to be bracing for further confrontation. Pro-government armed groups and protesters had encircled Mr. Maduro’s presidential palace by midmorning.

Image

Troops loyal to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro launching tear gas from inside the air base.CreditFernando Llano/Associated Press

In other parts of the city, national guard soldiers and policemen fought against anti-government protesters who were beginning to assemble for a protest in response to Mr. Guaidó’s call. Witnesses said tear gas canisters could be seen detonating near the military base.

Videos posted on social media showed a crowd of protesters approaching the air base, waving Venezuelan flags.

“I believe this is very important, but I see apathy and fear in people,” said one of the protesters, Mary Galaviz, 69. “We should not be afraid. In war there is death, but goals are achieved.”

Miriam Segovia, 52, another protester near the base, said she hoped that the armed forces would “put themselves on the side of the Constitution, so we can escape this misery, this hunger and lack of medication.”

Battered by mismanagement, American sanctions and corruption, the Venezuelan economy has been in steep decline since 2014. Millions of people have emigrated, and the roughly 30 million who remain are plagued by hyperinflation and shortages of medicines, food, electricity and jobs.

Mr. Maduro, who has been office since 2013, won re-election last year in a contest that was widely seen as fraudulent. In January, the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition and led by Mr. Guaidó, declared the election and the government illegitimate, leading Mr. Guaidó to claim to be the rightful, transitional leader.

Image

A member of the National Guard who supports Mr. Guaidó throwing a tear gas canister during a confrontation with guards loyal to Mr. Maduro.CreditYuri Cortez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

More than 50 countries, including the United States and most of its close allies, recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

On Tuesday morning, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated American support for the opposition, posting a message of encouragement on Twitter: “To @jgauido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad — Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios!”

The appearance of Mr. Guaidó and Mr. López on Tuesday, with the apparent support of some national guardsmen, prompted immediate rumors in Caracas that the armed forces could be shifting loyalties.

A central pillar of Mr. Guaidó’s strategy has been luring the military to his side, and a number of officers have defected. But that has never amounted to enough for a full-scale uprising against Mr. Maduro.

In January, shortly before Mr. Guaidó declared himself president, members of the national guard pledged allegiance to him at a base in Caracas. The government stormed the base and arrested some of the soldiers.

One of the soldiers later appeared in a Colombian border city seeking asylum, where he joined several thousands of rank-and-file soldiers who had defected.

Please check back for updates.

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2019-04-30 14:35:45Z
52780280474276

Clashes Flare After Venezuela Opposition Leader Calls for Military Uprising - The New York Times

Anti-government protesters and law enforcement officers clashed in Caracas on Tuesday after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó appeared alongside soldiers at a military base and called for the population to rise up against the president.

“Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men attached to the Constitution have followed our call,” Mr. Guaidó said in a video posted on social media, speaking from Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, a military airport in Caracas known as La Carlota, in a direct challenge to the government.

He has called before for the military to rise up against the government of President Nicolás Maduro, but doing so flanked by men in uniform, at a base in the heart of the capital, was a new step. With few exceptions, the military has so far protected Mr. Maduro.

Mr. Guaidó claimed that “the definitive end of the usurpation starts today,” but it was not clear how many civilians or soldiers would heed him.

“We are counting on the people of Venezuela today,” he said in the video. “The armed forces are clearly on the side of the people.”

Image

Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez hugging a supporter after being released from house arrest.CreditRayner Pena/EPA, via Shutterstock

Jorge Rodríguez, the government’s information minister, said on Twitter that government was “confronting and deactivating a small group of military traitors” that he said had taken over the base “to promote a coup.” He blamed the “coup-mongering ultraright,” which he said had pushed for a violent agenda for months in Venezuela.

Behind Mr. Guaidó, who has described himself since January as the country’s interim president, stood Leopoldo López, a member of his party who received a nearly 14-year sentence after staging protests in 2014 and has been held by the government under house arrest. Mr. López did not speak in the video but issued messages on Twitter saying that he had been released by soldiers.

“I was released by the military on the order of the Constitution and President Guaidó,” he wrote in his first Twitter posts since 2017. “Everyone mobilize. It’s time to conquer for freedom.”

Speaking to reporters near the airstrip, Mr. Guaidó said that a wide swath of the military now backed him, including top commanders, but he declined to release their names.

“There are generals, there are lieutenant colonels, there are majors, there are colonels — it’s a reflection of the country,” he said.

Mr. Guaidó said he had had no communication with Mr. Maduro.

The government and supporters of Mr. Guaidó appeared to be bracing for further confrontation. Pro-government armed groups and protesters had encircled Mr. Maduro’s presidential palace by midmorning.

Image

Troops loyal to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro launching tear gas from inside the air base.CreditFernando Llano/Associated Press

In other parts of the city, national guard soldiers and policemen fought against anti-government protesters who were beginning to assemble for a protest in response to Mr. Guaidó’s call. Witnesses said tear gas canisters could be seen detonating near the military base.

Videos posted on social media showed a crowd of protesters approaching the air base, waving Venezuelan flags.

“I believe this is very important, but I see apathy and fear in people,” said one of the protesters, Mary Galaviz, 69. “We should not be afraid. In war there is death, but goals are achieved.”

Miriam Segovia, 52, another protester near the base, said she hoped that the armed forces would “put themselves on the side of the Constitution, so we can escape this misery, this hunger and lack of medication.”

Battered by mismanagement, American sanctions and corruption, the Venezuelan economy has been in steep decline since 2014. Millions of people have emigrated, and the roughly 30 million who remain are plagued by hyperinflation and shortages of medicines, food, electricity and jobs.

Mr. Maduro, who has been office since 2013, won re-election last year in a contest that was widely seen as fraudulent. In January, the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition and led by Mr. Guaidó, declared the election and the government illegitimate, leading Mr. Guaidó to claim to be the rightful, transitional leader.

Image

A member of the National Guard who supports Mr. Guaidó throwing a tear gas canister during a confrontation with guards loyal to Mr. Maduro.CreditYuri Cortez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

More than 50 countries, including the United States and most of its close allies, recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

On Tuesday morning, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated American support for the opposition, posting a message of encouragement on Twitter: “To @jgauido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad — Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios!”

The appearance of Mr. Guaidó and Mr. López on Tuesday, with the apparent support of some national guardsmen, prompted immediate rumors in Caracas that the armed forces could be shifting loyalties.

A central pillar of Mr. Guaidó’s strategy has been luring the military to his side, and a number of officers have defected. But that has never amounted to enough for a full-scale uprising against Mr. Maduro.

In January, shortly before Mr. Guaidó declared himself president, members of the national guard pledged allegiance to him at a base in Caracas. The government stormed the base and arrested some of the soldiers.

One of the soldiers later appeared in a Colombian border city seeking asylum, where he joined several thousands of rank-and-file soldiers who had defected.

Please check back for updates.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/world/americas/venezuela-coup-guaido-military.html

2019-04-30 14:26:15Z
52780280474276

Unrest in Caracas - in pictures | World news - The Guardian

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1. Unrest in Caracas - in pictures | World news  The Guardian
2. Attempted coup underway in Venezuela: Live updates  CNN
3. Venezuela coup LIVE: Guaido calls for military uprising  The Sun
4. Venezuela’s Guaido calls for military uprising while flanked by soldiers at Caracas airbase: ‘The moment is...  Fox News
5. Venezuela's Guaidó appeals to military 'at air force base' - BBC News  BBC News
6. View full coverage on Google News

https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2019/apr/30/unrest-in-caracas-venezuela-in-pictures

2019-04-30 13:38:00Z
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Venezuela's Guaido declares 'final phase' of operation to topple Maduro: Live updates - CNN

Guaido speaks to supporters at a rally in March.

Guaido speaks to supporters at a rally in March.FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images

In his dawn address, opposition leader Juan Guaido announced "the start of the end of the usurpation" -- the next phase of a months-long struggle to wrest power from Nicolas Maduro.

Here's a timeline of the country's crisis since last year:

May 2018: Nicolas Maduro, who has been President since 2013 and has presided over years of economic decline, secures another six-year team after winning an election widely denounced as a sham by the opposition and the international community.

August 2018: Several drones armed with explosives disrupt a military parade in an apparent assassination attempt against Maduro. Amid warnings that inflation could hit one million percent by the end of the year, the government issues a new currency.

January 2019: Two weeks after Maduro is sworn in, Guaido declares himself the interim president amid anti-government protests. The Trump administration recognizes Guaido as president -- followed by much of Latin America and Western Europe -- and the US sanctions Venezuela's government-owned oil company.

February 2019: Maduro's government announces that it will not accept much-needed foreign aid and intends to reroute food and supply shipments to Colombia instead. He later breaks off diplomatic relations with Colombia as tensions escalate over the aid on the border.

March 2019: A power outage leaves more than 70% of the country without electricity at one point, and rolling power outages plague the country for days. Separately, the US announces withdraws all remaining diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Caracas, and slaps sanctions on some members of Maduro's government.

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https://www.cnn.com/americas/live-news/juan-guaido-venezuela-operation-freedom-live-updates/index.html

2019-04-30 13:20:00Z
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Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaidó declares 'final phase of Operation Freedom' - CNN

Guaidó, who is head of Venezuela's national assembly and has been recognized as president by dozens of other countries, has led months of protest against the Maduro government, yet Tuesday marked his boldest attempt yet to involve the military in the removal of the Venezuelan president.

In the video, broadcast on Guaidó's social media account, another key opposition figure, Leopoldo Lopez, appeared to be present.

Lopez is currently under house arrest, and it was unclear how he had evaded custody to take part in the video, which Guaidó said was filmed in a military airbase, La Carlota.

Guaidó has called for nationwide demonstrations on May 1, and said his announcement signaled the start of that protest a day early.

He later tweeted, "The people of Venezuela initiated the end of the usurpation. At this moment I am meeting with the main military units of our Armed Forces, beginning the final phase of Operation Freedom."

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/americas/venezuela-juan-guaido-leopoldo-lopez-intl/index.html

2019-04-30 11:40:00Z
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Japanese emperor Akihito abdicates in historic ceremony - Guardian News

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7HVnU3CjA

2019-04-30 09:45:39Z
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Japan’s Emperor Akihito announces abdication in final address to his people - USA TODAY

Associated Press

Published 6:22 AM EDT Apr 30, 2019

Japan’s Emperor Akihito has announced at a ceremony that he is abdicating, in his final official address to his people.

In the ceremony at the palace on Tuesday, Akihito also thanked his people for their support during his 30-year reign as emperor.

He said it was fortunate for him that he could fulfil his duties with full trust and faith in his people.

Akihito’s reign ends at midnight Tuesday, after which his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, ascends the throne as new emperor.

Naruhito’s ascension will be formalized at a separate ceremony on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump expressed his appreciation for Akihito and Empress Michiko and used the occasion to "recognize the tremendous importance" of the U.S.'s relationship with Japan. 

"Emperor Akihito welcomed five United States presidents to Japan and reigned from the end of the Cold War to the present day," Trump said in a statement. "Our bilateral relationship was critical to navigating the global challenges of those times."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/30/japans-emperor-akihito-abdication/3624648002/

2019-04-30 08:45:00Z
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Japan's Emperor Akihito and the future of Facebook: 5 things you need to know Tuesday - USA TODAY

Editors

Published 6:09 AM EDT Apr 30, 2019

Japanese emperor becomes first to abdicate in 200 years

Japan's 85-year-old Emperor Akihito announced his abdication in his final official address to his people Tuesday, ending his three-decade reign. Akihito, the son of Japan’s wartime emperor Hirohito, is the first emperor to abdicate in 200 years. In 2016, Akihito told the nation he was concerned about his age and declining health and wanted to abdicate while he was still capable. With no legal framework to allow a reigning emperor to abdicate, the Japanese government had to pass a one-time law allowing it. The throne will pass on Wednesday to Prince Naruhito, 59, the elder of Akihito's two sons, who will receive the Imperial sword and jewel as proof of his ascension.

Beleaguered Zuckerberg to weigh in on the future of Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg is expected to lay out his vision for the future of Facebook when the CEO gives the keynote address at the company's annual conference for software developers. The speech, a must-watch in the tech industry, comes in the wake of repeated privacy and security scandals that have damaged the company’s reputation since the 2016 presidential election. Last week, the company reported that it may face a fine of up to $5 billion from the Federal Trade Commission for its mishandling of people's personal data. USA TODAY also reported on complaints from the black community that Facebook users' posts have been censored and accounts banned for speaking out about racism.

Trump, Pelosi to meet on infrastructure during all-out war over investigations

Democratic leaders will head to the White House Tuesday for their first meeting with President Donald Trump since the longest government shutdown in American history. The ostensible purpose is infrastructure, but they'll first have to swerve around an all-out war underway about testimony and subpoenas stemming from Robert Mueller’s report. Members of the Trump administration plan on stonewalling Congress as House Democrats turn their attention to the aftermath of the Mueller report, while Trump has promised that he plans to fight "all the subpoenas."  

Mnuchin hopes for ‘substantial progress’ in US-China trade talks

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer traveled to Beijing to resume talks Tuesday to try to end a yearlong trade war between the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies.  A Chinese team is scheduled to visit Washington next week for another round of discussions. Mnuchin said: “We hope to make substantial progress in these two meetings.” The two sides are locked in a standoff over the Trump administration’s charges that Beijing steals technology and forces foreign companies operating in China to hand over trade secrets. China is pushing to make its companies world leaders in advanced industries like robotics and artificial intelligence. 

McDonald’s dials back late night menu

McDonald's will slim down its late night offerings in an attempt to streamline service for customers in the wee hours starting Tuesday. Popular staples like the Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets and fries will still be served, but the chain’s Signature Crafted Recipes, buttermilk-crispy-chicken sandwiches, Filet-O-Fish, and premium salads will discontinued after midnight as the fast-food giant transitions to a pared down menu until 5 a.m. This will not impact the daytime menu and the popular All-Day breakfast items.

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2019-04-30 08:08:00Z
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Emperor Naruhito is ready to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. What can Japan expect from its new ruler? - CNN

In February he explicitly vowed to continue his father's legacy, particularly in breaking down the barriers between the emperor and his subjects.

"I want to earnestly fulfill my duties by always being close to the people, and sharing with them their joys and sorrows," he said.

Hironomiya Naruhito Shinno, better known as Crown Prince Naruhito, was born in Tokyo in February 1960, the eldest child of Emperor Akihito who abdicated Tuesday and his wife Michiko.

Those who know Naruhito, describe him as "modest, charming and astute," says Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Japan.

He became the first Japanese royal to study abroad, spending two years at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, writing a thesis on medieval mercantilism on the River Thames, before returning to Tokyo and his alma mater, Gakushuin University, for doctoral studies.

The easygoing personality and sense of humor of the anglophile Naruhito shines through in his book "The Thames and I: A Memoir of Two Years at Oxford."

Now he must emerge from his father's shadow and establish himself as a modern leader.

Naruhito, who has already assumed some of his father's duties, will usher in the "Reiwa" era -- whose name includes the character for "harmony" -- when he ascends the throne on May 1.

"It is his reign name to shape through his actions and gestures," says Kingston, adding that Naruhito's challenge in defining his era will be to avoid getting "co-opted by Japan's right-leaning politicians."

Strict traditions

The Chrysanthemum Throne is the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world, and records show the royal male line to be unbroken for 14 centuries. Naruhito himself is a direct descendant of Japan's first emperor Jimmu, circa 660 BC.

The only child of Naruhito and his wife Masako is a daughter, Aiko, and women are barred from the throne. This means that the new emperor's brother, Akishino, will become first in line to the throne while Akishino's 12-year-old son Hisahito -- the only male member of that generation of Japanese royals -- will be second.

Other imperial traditions have been loosened, especially in regard to marriage.

Akihito became the first emperor to marry a commoner, after meeting Michiko in 1957 during a tennis match in the scenic mountain town of Karuizawa.

The couple also broke with tradition to play an active part in raising their four children, including the future emperor.

Naruhito followed suit in 1993 by marrying career diplomat Masako Owada, despite her reservations at becoming part of the rigorously traditional and hidebound Imperial Household.

Masako, under tremendous pressure to produce a male heir to continue the unbroken line, suffered a miscarriage in 1999 before giving birth to Aiko two years later.

Imperial Household doctors diagnosed her as suffering from a "adjustment disorder" caused by stress, which can cause depression.

Naruhito has been deeply protective of his wife. Even when they were courting, he promised to shield her from the scrutiny and rigors of imperial life.

The new emperor is "something of a maverick," Kingston says, citing Naruhito's controversial remarks in 2004, when he suggested that Imperial Household bureaucrats were to blame for his wife's condition due to "their obsessive focus on her producing a male heir."

Jeremy Yellen, an assistant professor in the Department of Japanese Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says that in the new era he expects Naruhito "will continue to be very protective of his wife, Princess Masako, and his family."

Until Emperor Hirohito renounced his divine status in the wake of Japan's Second World War defeat and subsequent occupation by the United States military, Japanese emperors were seen as demigods.

Hirohito's son Akihito, in contrast, denounced militarism and opposed revisionist accounts of the war years.

Naruhito has indicated that he will continue his father's legacy, Yellen says.

"I find it highly likely that he will follow many of the precedents that made his father such a success with the media. Although the issue may not be as important to him as it was to his father, I believe that he will continue Emperor Akihito's rejection of revisionist views of Japan's wartime past."

At birthday press conferences in recent years Naruhito has made it clear that he shares his father's views about Japan's war responsibility and his unwavering commitment to pacifism.

"I myself did not experience the war," he said on his 55th birthday in 2015. "But I think that it is important today, when memories of the war are fading, to look back humbly on the past and correctly pass on the tragic experiences and history Japan pursued from the generation which experienced the war to those without direct knowledge."

New direction

However, Kingston says the anti-war message may not resonate as strongly with the current generation, who have no memories of the war or of post-war privations.

Instead, many look at the changing geopolitics of the region, particularly the rise of China.

"Millennials... see Asia as a threatening and often hostile neighborhood," he says.

Naruhito, whose birth name means "a man who will acquire heavenly virtues," seems likely to keep pushing for societal change. He has a particular interest in clean water and water conservation, and Kingston says this is likely his best chance of defining himself independently of his beloved 85-year-old father, who took over the throne in 1989.

"In order to emerge from his father's long shadow, climate change might become Naruhito's signature cause, drawing on his longstanding interest in water-related environmental issues to champion disaster resilience and sustainable development."

Naruhito has "already apprenticed extensively in the role of consoler-in-chief," says Kingston, paying frequent visits to the Tohoku region which was devastated by the 2011 tsunami.

He also "lends support to various causes supportive of the vulnerable and marginalized," Kingston says.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/asia/new-japan-emperor-naruhito-intl/index.html

2019-04-30 07:26:00Z
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