The Venezuelan military has used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a demonstration on the border with Colombia. In the border town of Ureña, there were clashes between special forces of the National Guard and protesters.

At least one man was injured in the riots, reports CNN Español. The protesters lit car tires in the streets and threw stones at the police. Among the protesters were many people from the region crossing the border every day, either for shopping or for work.

Head of State Nicolás Maduro's government closed large parts of the border with Colombia on Friday to prevent international relief supplies from entering the country, suffering from hunger and medical emergencies.

Venezuela is suffering from a severe economic and supply crisis. For lack of foreign exchange, the resource-rich country can barely import food, medicines and everyday necessities for the needy population. Many people are starving, over three million Venezuelans have already left their homeland.

Supporters of self-proclaimed Transitional President Juan Guaidó want to bring several tons of food, medicines and toiletries from a warehouse in the Colombian border town of Cucuta to Venezuela.

Maduro claims that the delivery of relief supplies should prepare a military US invasion. In fact, the targeted distribution of food to followers is probably above all a means of power politics. Maduro's influence would be further weakened if the opposition itself could alleviate the plight of the people themselves.

The support for Maduro seems to crumble anyway: According to correspondence from CNN Español and the Reuters news agency on Saturday morning at least four members of the Venezuelan military deserted. The soldiers left their posts and asked the Colombian Immigration Service for help.

On Venezuelan side also two tanks have been destroyed according to eyewitnesses barriers that blocked the frontier bridge Simon Bolívar.

photo gallery


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Photo gallery: showdown at the border

In recent days there has been a riot in Venezuela. The military is said to have shot at least two people on the border with Brazil. Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called on the security forces for moderation. The US government threatened that violations of human rights would "not go unpunished".

Maduro's adversary Guaidó had declared himself president in January. He is supported by the US and several European countries, including Germany.