In Venezuela, the opponent Juan Guaido summoned by the prosecution for "attempted coup"

Juan Guaido summoned to appear. The Venezuelan opposition leader is summoned by the prosecution on Thursday for an investigation into "attempted coup" and "attempted murder" against President Nicolas Maduro, announced on Tuesday March 31, Attorney General, Tarek William Saab.

"As part of the investigation launched last week for an attempted coup and magnicide (...) after the discovery in Colombia of a war arsenal intended for Venezuela, we have summoned citizen Juan Guaido next Thursday before this public prosecution, "he said in a statement broadcast by the state-run VTV.

Fiscal General Tarek William Saab anunció citación a Juan Guaidó por nuevo intento de golpe de Estado https://t.co/sDpj3OAbtP # 31Mar pic.twitter.com/fhUUYF5PF6

"Plot staged in Colombia"

On March 25, the Venezuelan government denounced an attempted coup after the discovery of a stockpile of weapons in Colombia. Among them, 26 assault rifles, night vision goggles and mufflers, said Minister of Communication Jorge Rodriguez, citing Colombian media.

"The main intention was to introduce (in Venezuela) assault groups responsible for the assassination of the President of the Republic, the President of the Constituent Assembly (Diosdado Cabello), the vice-presidents and the ministers", he had assured, implicating the Colombian president Ivan Duque.

Colombia and Venezuela broke off relations in February 2019 and Ivan Duque does not recognize what he calls Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship".

The Venezuelan minister had also accused the retired Venezuelan general Cliver Alcala, who has been a refugee in Colombia for two years, of participating in this "plot" staged in the neighboring country with the support of the United States, according to the Chavista power, who also accuses the opponent Juan Guaido for having taken part in it.

"Start the liberation" of Venezuela

Washington offered $ 15 million on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan president and 14 Venezuelan officials or ex-officials charged with "narco-terrorism" in the United States, including Cliver Alcala.

The latter, a former close associate of ex-President Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), surrendered the next day to the American authorities in Colombia, and was taken to New York in stride.

Shortly before his surrender, the latter had affirmed on social networks that the weapons discovered were his and that they were intended for a military operation to "launch the liberation" of Venezuela. He had also implicated Juan Guaido in this alleged plan.

Recognized as interim president by nearly 60 countries, Juan Guaido has been unsuccessfully trying to oust Nicolas Maduro, a "usurper", for just over a year.

With AFP

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