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Caribbean-Latin America |
Venezuelan military official drops allegiance to Maduro |
2019-02-10 |
[PULSE.NG] An active-duty Venezuelan army colonel who is a military doctor has dropped his allegiance to President Nicolas Maduro![]() , backing opposition leader Juan Guaido instead. "Ninety percent of us in the armed forces are really unhappy," said Colonel Ruben Paz Jimenez said in a video released Saturday. "We are being used to keep them in power." He urged his fellow soldiers to help allow humanitarian aid ![]() Maduro has vowed to prevent the aid from entering, labeling it a precursor of a US invasion. A week ago, Air Force General Francisco Yanez also dropped his allegiance to Maduro. The military's backing is critical to the sway of power in Venezuela. Venezuela's self-proclaimed acting president Guaido on Friday refused to rule out the possibility of authorizing United States intervention to help force President Nicolas Maduro from power and alleviate a humanitarian crisis. The opposition leader launched a bid to oust Maduro last month, declaring himself interim president, a move recognized by the US and around 50 other countries, including 20 from the European Union ![]() . |
Posted by:Fred |