Venezuela’s opposition blames “dictatorship” for violent “escalation” of crisis

Record ID: 905509

  • Title: Venezuela’s opposition blames “dictatorship” for violent “escalation” of crisis
  • Date: 7th August 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 07, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF VENEZUELA'S OPPOSITION-LED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DURING AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, JULIO BORGES (RIGHT) AND FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, FREDDY GUEVARA, DURING EXTRAORDINARY SESSION VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY CHANTING "FRAUD" VARIOUS OF ASSEMBLY IN SESSION FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, FREDDY GUEVARA, WALKING UP TO ADDRESS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, FREDDY GUEVARA, SAYING: "The fact that in Venezuela there are Venezuelan military who are thinking the conflict should be escalated to an armed conflict, even though there have been considerable fallen in the current political conflict - there have already been more than 120 people killed, in an armed conflict, there would be a substantial exponentiation of this - that there are Venezuelans and Venezuelan military that are thinking this, it is the complete responsibility of the dictatorship. And we want to make a clear call to those who prop up Nicolas Maduro, especially the National Armed Forces, that we should respect the constitution." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, FREDDY GUEVARA, SAYING: "In these uncertain times, in these doubtful times, in these times of confusion, we will remain strong. And in that way, as we've said before, we will continue to exercise the mandate and the work the people gave us. Today, from the Federal Legislative Palace, we are fulfilling that mandate." EXTERIOR OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING VENEZUELAN FLAG WAVING IN THE WIND FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT VARIOUS OF THE NEWLY-NAMED CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF VENEZUELA, TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEWLY-NAMED CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF VENEZUELA, TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, SAYING: "Before becoming the chief prosecutor, in the months of April, May, June, July and August, I am completely convinced, I have the complete conviction, just like millions of Venezuelans do, that each statement, one after the other, incited by I don't know who or for what motives; they didn't only cause serious damage to democratic institutionalism, but also put in danger, serious danger, peace for our citizens." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE GENERAL COMPTROLLER, MANUEL GALINDO, DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEWLY-NAMED CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF VENEZUELA, TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, SAYING: "In a difference to before, this Public Ministry is not a state. It will not be a state within a state. Those days are over. The Public Ministry must and should be open to the people and cross-institutional cooperation." VARIOUS OF SAAB, GALINDO AND VENEZUELA'S OMBUDSMAN, ALFREDO RUIZ ANGULO, LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2017 21:51
  • Keywords: Venezuela chief proscutor Tarek William Saab Luisa Ortega constituent assembly attack on a military base Valencia Freddy Guevara
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016T5SLDZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Venezuela's opposition on Monday (August 7) said it was the government's fault people within the military and beyond think the current political crisis should be "escalated to an armed conflict."
    The first vice president of the opposition-led National Assembly, Freddy Guevara, said an armed conflict would lead to more bloodshed while calling for the constitution to be respected during a news conference outside a meeting with lawmakers.
    Last week's installation of an all-powerful new legislative body run by leftist President Nicolas Maduro's Socialist Party loyalists, despite massive protests and a global outcry, has left many Venezuelans feeling there are no more democratic options to oppose the government.
    Venezuela appears to be sliding toward a more volatile stage of unrest after anti-government forces looted weapons during a weekend raid on a military base and frustration over what some see as an ineffectual opposition leadership boils over.
    The military leadership continues to publicly back Maduro and the new constituent assembly gave him a friendly chief prosecutor with Tarek William Saab who replaces the sacked Luisa Ortega who had become Maduro's main challenger from within the ruling socialist movement.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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