Venezuelans Rally As Opposition Leader Guaido Calls For Uprising

• 05.01.2019, 10:14
•  World

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Hundreds of Venezuelans rallied on Tuesday after opposition leader Juan Guaido called for a "military uprising" in his strongest move to take down President Nicolas Maduro since declaring himself interim president earlier this year, Al Jazeera reports

Guaido, in a video posted on Twitter earlier on Tuesday, said he had started the "final phase" of his campaign to remove Maduro from power, calling on Venezuelans and the military to back him.

Guaido said he was at the Caracas airbase La Carlota and called for people to come out in support as well. 

"The time is now," Guaido said. "We are going to achieve freedom and democracy in Venezuela," he added, urging supporters to take to the streets.

Shortly after, a small group of armed troops, who had appeared to pledge their support to Guaido, briefly clashed with soldiers supporting Maduro. Protesters and security forces also clashed. Video from Reuters showed a National Guard vehicle running over some protesters. And residents in different areas of Caracas also reported hearing the gunshots in the streets. There were reports of dozens of injuries. 

Maduro did not appear in public but tweeted that he spoke to military commanders who had shown him "total loyalty".