Venezuela's Communication Minister accuses Guaido of "terrorist act" at border aid showdown

Record ID: 1396922

  • Title: Venezuela's Communication Minister accuses Guaido of "terrorist act" at border aid showdown
  • Date: 24th February 2019
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 23, 2019) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE WITH OPPOSITION FIGURES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WIFE OF JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER LEOPOLDO LOPEZ LILIAN TINTORI, SAYING: "They (Venezuelan troops) burnt two vehicles of humanitarian aid that entered the country. These vehicles were already on Venezuelan territory when they were burnt by men from Maduro's paramilitaries, groups aligned to Maduro." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WIFE OF JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER LEOPOLDO LOPEZ LILIAN TINTORI, SAYING: "We stand on our feet in Venezuela, with more strength, more perseverance than ever, with more conviction and moral strength to defend our people and fight for fundamental rights in Venezuela." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2019 23:08
  • Keywords: Caracas Venezuela Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez President Nicolas Maduro opposition leader Juan Guaido
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA004A2XYJIF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Venezuela's Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez on Sunday (February 24) accused opposition leader Juan Guaido of a "terrorist act" at a border showdown over aid, before hitting out at artists that performed at a benefit concert for the OPEC nation.
    On Saturday (February 23), troops loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blocked convoys of U.S. humanitarian aid from crossing from Colombia to Venezuela, using teargas and rubber bullets and killing two protesters.
    But on Sunday, Rodriguez said Guaido was responsible for the violence at the border.
    The showdown on the border came one day after a "Live Aid"-style benefit concert at the Colombian border that was organised by British tycoon Richard Branson. Performers at the event such as Spanish music veteran Miguel Bose have been critical of Maduro. On Sunday, Rodriguez hit back at Bose by commenting on his physical appearance.
    Maduro has denied there are shortages of food and medicine in Venezuela, and says the aid is aimed at undermining his government.
    Undeterred by Saturday's border confrontation, opposition figures such as Lilian Tintori, wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, vowed to keep up pressure on Maduro.
    Opposition leader, Juan Guaido, recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by dozens of countries, is in Colombia to meet with regional leaders and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on effort to get aid into the country and hold elections.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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