Caracas, February 13 (RHC) -– Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced that his government is facing an attempted coup d'etat, following unprecedented violent actions spearheaded by his political rivals.
In a commemoration ceremony Wednesday marking the Battle of La Victoria, the president said the international community must be aware that Venezuela is facing a coup against democracy and the constitutional government. Maduro warned: "There is a fascist group using public freedoms and democracy to advance its plans to overthrow the government.”
The president also said he has strong evidence about those responsible for Wednesday's violence, saying that the Attorney General's Office had already issued arrest warrants against the former Army chief Ivan Carratú Molina, and former ambassador of Venezuela to Colombia, Fernando Gerbasi, for their involvement in the events.
Furthermore, Maduro stressed that “democracy will continue and the revolution will continue. There will be no coup d’état in Venezuela; you can rest assured.”
Maduro also promised to tighten security across the country after the violence perpetrated by right-wing elements against government institutions and supporters left at least three people dead in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
According to reports, more than two dozen people were also injured and 50 arrested as security forces clashed with masked protesters outside the General Attorney's Office in Caracas.
The protest, organized by opposition politicians, was held as part of "Youth Day" celebration, which marks the participation of students in the 19th century independence battle of La Victoria against colonial rule.