VENEZUELA: Confusion as military chief recognises opposition leader Guaido as head-of-state

There is palpable fear and apprehension in Venezuela as the country has been thrown into another round of crisis after a high-ranking air force general recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim head-of-state.

General Francisco Yanez (a member of the air force’s high command) who said in a video that he had disavowed President Nicolas Maduro, also called on other members of the military to defect.

He also reportedly claimed that 90 percent of the armed forces no longer support Maduro.

Embattled Maduro started a second term on January 10 following a widely-boycotted election last year that many foreign governments refused to recognise.

The declaration comes hours after the international community, especially the European Union put the Turkish government under pressure to stop buying gold from Venezuela.

Reports say Turkey is now considered the main concern among countries engaging in trade with Venezuela as there are growing suspicion that gold exported to Turkey ends up in Iran which violates US sanctions.

Recall that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared support for Maduro who is facing growing political challenge back home.

Read also: Trump out to kill me, Venezuela’s Maduro claims

Meanwhile, the United States of America has called on Venezuela’s military to join forces with the air force general who sided Guaido against President Nicolas Maduro.

The call was made by a top White House official on Saturday, who said Venezuela’s military should follow the lead of the air force general to protect peaceful protesters supporting democracy.

Read also: Trump out to kill me, Venezuela’s Maduro claims

“The US calls on all military members to follow General Yanez’s lead, and to protect the peaceful protestors supporting democracy,” National Security Advisor John Bolton said in a tweet.

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