Venezuelan Defense Minister Rejects Guaido's Calls for Coup

By teleSUR

30 April 19

The Venezuelan opposition lawmaker has once again called on the military to overthrow the legitimate government of President Nicolás Maduro

he self-proclaimed "interim president" of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, went live on Twitter this morning to call on the military and people to begin an uprising against the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro. 

Main government offcials have rejected the attamepted coup and called on the country's population to reject the coup and march towards the Miraflores presintial palace to protect the country from the far-right, U.S.-backed coup.

Updates are all in Venezuelan time. 

UPDATE 8:00

Bolivian President Evo Morales and Cuban President Diaz-Canel issued statements rejecting the military coup attempt in Venezuela. 

We strongly condemn the attempted coup in #Venezuela, by the right wing that is submissive to foreign interests. Sure that the courageous Bolivarian Revolution at the head of the brother @NicolasMaduro, will be imposed on this new attack of the empire. https://t.co/m57KYHxoU2

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) April 30, 2019

We reject this coup which pretends to fill the country with violence. The traitors who have placed themselves at the forefront of this subversive movement have used troops and police with war weapons on a public road in the city to create anxiety and terror. #HandsOffVenezuela https://t.co/rSRJyhfwJZ

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) April 30, 2019

UPDATE 7:30 am

Country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino rejected the coup attempt and said that the country's legitimate military forces would respond to any attempt to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. "We reject this coup movement that aims to fill the country with violence. The pseudo-political leaders who have placed themselves at the forefront of this subversive movement have used troops and police with weapons of war on a public road in the city to create anxiety and terror."

The FANB stands firm in defense of the National Constitution and its legitimate authorities. All the military units deployed in the eight Integral Defense Regions report normalcy in their barracks and military bases, under the command of their natural commanders. https://t.co/jidvJkLwmF

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) April 30, 2019

UPDATE 7:15 am 

Following Guaido's plea, the Venezuelan Vice President of Communications, Jorge Rodriguez, tweeted that the military is confrontating a group of traitors seeking to promote a coup d'Etat. "We inform to Venezuelan people that we are currently confrontating and deactivating a small group of traitors in our military personnel who positioned themselves in the Altamira Distributor to promote a Coup d'Etat against the Constitution and the peace of the Republic."

Informamos al pueblo de Venezuela que en estos momentos estamos enfrentando y desactivando a un reducido grupo de efectivos militares traidores que se posicionaron en el Distribuidor Altamira para promover un Golpe de Estado contra la Constitución y la paz de la República... 1/2

— Jorge Rodríguez (@jorgerpsuv) April 30, 2019

UPDATE 7:05 am

President of the National Constituent Assembly of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, denied the capture of the Carlota Air Base, after a small group of soldiers appeared to be supporting the Guaido coup.

"No military installation has been violated in the country, they are on the street in the Altamira Distributor and we are directing operations from the Carlota Air Base," he explained. Likewise, the national government has called on the Venezuelan people to move to Miraflores to reject the coup attempt.