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<div class="header reader-header reader-show-element" dir="ltr"> <font
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href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14453">https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14453</a></font>
<h1 class="reader-title">Venezuelan Military Putsch Defeated as
Leopoldo Lopez Takes Refuge in Spanish Embassy</h1>
<div class="credits reader-credits">By Ricardo Vaz - April 30,
2019<br>
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<p>Caracas, April 30, 2019 (<a
href="http://venezuelanalysis.com/">venezuelanalysis.com</a>)
– “Interim President” Juan Guaido and right-wing
opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez spearheaded an
unsuccessful <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14451">coup
attempt</a> in Caracas on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/14452">thwarted
uprising</a> started in the early morning hours when
renegade military and intelligence officers reportedly
released Lopez from house arrest. Lopez then joined
Guaido and a handful of soldiers on the Altamira
overpass in east Caracas, outside the Francisco de
Miranda airbase, known as La Carlota.</p>
<p>Lopez and Guaido released videos on social media,
calling on the armed forces to back their efforts and
urging supporters to take to the streets, in what they
termed as the “final phase” of the so-called
“Operation Freedom.” Large crowds of anti-government
protesters, as well as opposition lawmakers, made
their way to the Altamira overpass.</p>
<p>The scene then saw armed confrontations between the
soldiers that backed Juan Guaido and those inside La
Carlota airbase. According to witnesses in La Carlota,
the Venezuelan armed forces fired tear gas towards the
Altamira overpass, where civilian protesters began to
gather, whereas Guaido’s soldiers returned live fire.
Riot police also appeared on the scene to try and
disperse the crowds. There are reports of protesters
wounded and arrested that are unconfirmed at the time
of writing.</p>
<p>At the same time, many of the originally deployed
soldiers withdrew from the scene, later revealing that
they had been “deceived” by their superiors.
Simultaneously, Chavista leaders took to state and
social media to denounce what they termed a coup in
progress, and large crowds gathered to defend
Miraflores Presidential Palace.</p>
<p>Guaido later attempted to lead a march, including
some armed soldiers, into western Caracas but was
stopped by Venezuelan National Guard forces in
Chacaito, some 10 kilometers away from Miraflores.</p>
<p><a href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/11452">Leopoldo
Lopez</a> was later reported to have joined his
family in the Chilean Embassy. However, the Chilean
ambassador subsequently explained on Twitter that
Lopez and his family had instead moved to the Spanish
Embassy, in what he termed a “personal choice.” Lopez
was serving a 13 year <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11502">sentence</a>
for his role in the deadly 2014 anti-government
protests, which was later commuted to house arrest.</p>
<p>Brazilian authorities also confirmed at the time that
25 soldiers who had taken part in the failed
insurrection had taken refuge in the Brazilian embassy
in Caracas.</p>
<p>For his part, Guaido was absent for several hours
before releasing a video on social media in the
evening, calling on his supporters to take to the
streets on Wednesday to continue the “final phase” of
“Operation Freedom.”</p>
<p>The opposition leader went on claim President Maduro
“does not have the support of the armed forces,” and
vowed that his efforts to oust the Venezuelan
government continue “as strong as ever.”</p>
<p>The day saw several localised outbreaks of violence
in Caracas and several other cities, with protesters
setting up burning barricades and authorities
responding with rubber bullets and tear gas. Violent
protests were particularly focused in traditional
opposition strongholds of eastern Caracas, including
outside La Carlota airbase. At the time of writing
there are still reports of blocked roads and
detonations.</p>
<p>Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addressed the
country in a televised speech on Tuesday evening,
accusing those responsible for the military uprising
of trying to provoke a “massacre” and lauding the
armed forces for their restraint in avoiding direct
confrontations.</p>
<p>“Who benefits from these [confrontations]? Who
finances them? Undoubtedly the leadership of the
terrorist ultra-right party Popular Will,” Maduro
declared, referring to the party of Lopez and Guaido.</p>
<p>He added that today’s actions would not go
“unpunished,” explaining that eight military officers
and policemen were wounded in the armed
confrontations, before going on to blast US leaders
for their role in endorsing the coup attempt. Maduro
also showed his appreciation for the tens of thousands
who mobilized to defend the presidential palace
beginning in the early hours of Tuesday.</p>
<p>The Venezuelan president, who was accompanied by
high-ranking political and military leaders, ended his
speech by calling for a “massive mobilization” on May
1st to celebrate workers’ day and “defend peace.”</p>
<p>US officials also weighed in during the day, with
National Security Advisor John Bolton warning Defense
Minister Vladimir Padrino and Supreme Court President
Maikel Moreno that this was their “<a
href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1123298012145516545">last
chance</a>” to support Guaido. President Donald
Trump likewise <a
href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1123291797554454529">tweeted</a>
that the US “stands with the People of Venezuela and
their Freedom!”</p>
<p>The coup attempt was also condemned by world leaders,
with Bolivian President Evo Morales “vigorously
condemning” the putschand Cuban President Miguel
Diaz-Canel rejecting “an attempt to fill the country
with violence.”</p>
<p>The European Union High Representative for Foreign
Affairs Federica Mogherini issued a <a
href="https://twitter.com/EUCouncilPress/status/1123309466965938176">statement</a>
in the afternoon, rejecting “any form of violence” and
urging “restraint,” in contrast with European
Parliament President Antonio Tajani, who <a
href="https://twitter.com/EP_President/status/1123176091416518657">tweeted</a>
his support for the unfolding coup. For his part, UN
Secretary General also called for “maximum restraint”
and for “immediate steps” to be taken to restore calm.</p>
<p><em>Edited by Lucas Koerner from Caracas.</em></p>
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