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<hr><a name="article-0"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/rival-rallies-held-caracas-venezuela-crisis-intensifies-190309201136949.html" target="new-0"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(-1)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(1)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="0"><h1>Rival rallies held in Caracas as Venezuela crisis intensifies </h1><div class="main-article-body">
<figure class="main-article-mediaCaption"><div class="main-article-media"><img class="img-responsive main-article-media-img" src="https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2019/3/9/4ab47230970d4a9ea3379429409dbe35_18.jpg" alt="Rival rallies held in Caracas as Venezuela crisis intensifies " title="Rival rallies held in Caracas as Venezuela crisis intensifies "></div>
<figcaption>Opposition supporters demonstrating in the capital, Caracas [Matias Delacroix/AFP]</figcaption></figure><div id="inpage-more-on-block" class="inpage-auto-embed hidden-xs"></div>
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<p dir="ltr">Thousands of people have once again hit the streets of Venezuela's capital, Caracas, in the latest rival displays for and against President <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a> amid a deepening political crisis.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As a major blackout continued affecting much of the country for a third day, anti-government protesters on Saturday heeded the call of the Washington-backed opposition leader <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/juan-guaido.html">Juan Guaido</a> for renewed rallies demanding Maduro step down.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Opposition supporters on Victoria avenue, in western Caracas, pushed against the shields of riot police, who eventually withdrew but maintained a large presence in the area.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">"I am tired [of this situation]," Rosa Soriano, an opposition demonstrator, told Al Jazeera. "We can't continue like this; I lost hope before, but now I believe a change is possible."</p>
<p dir="ltr">Conversely, red-shirted Maduro supporters turned out for a rival rally near the Miraflores presidential palace, demanding the <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/united-states.html">United States</a> stop "sabotaging" and intervening in the country's internal affairs.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>"We are continuing the battle and victory over the permanent and brutal aggression against our people," Maduro wrote on Twitter.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Today, more than ever, we're anti-imperialists. We will never surrender!"</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>His supporters said they wanted to let the "imperialism" forces that they were ready to defend the country.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"This is a project of life and hope for Venezuelans, the message we want to send to the world is that socialism is the [only] way in the country" Anibal Figueroa 48, an employee in the ministry of education, told Al Jazeera.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span>Major blackout</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr">The oil-rich nation fell in darkness on Thursday evening, with government critics blaming the blackout on decades of mismanagement and corruption but the ruling Socialist party saying it was an act of US sabotage.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On Saturday morning, power went on and off in parts of Caracas, but other parts of the country continued being without power.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hospitals in Caracas reported major problems over the past three days, while Julio Castro, who leads an NGO called Doctors for Health, said at least 13 people died amid the blackout. His statement could not be independently verified.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers on Friday were left stranded after flights were cancelled at the capital's Maiquetia airport.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In Puerto Ordaz, in southern Venezuela, people said they were struggling to deal with rising temperatures amid the blackout.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Yesterday, it was difficult to be without power," <span>a resident, who did not wish to be identified, told Al Jazeera on Saturday.</span> </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We could barely rest as the temperatures were really high; we [practically] didn't sleep all night, in all darkness, and just waiting with anxiety for this problem to get solved," he added.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Still, government supporters accused the anti-Maduro front of not acting fairly.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"The Venezuelan opposition does not understand democracy," Ricardo Leon, editor of El Silbon Information Agency, told Al Jazeera.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"When they have tried it, they have emerged winners - they even won the control of the National Assembly," he added, referring to polls in 2015.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We need to talk and through elections call for changes; we can't solve our problems by letting external powers intervene. We do not accept an interference of that type."</span></p>
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<td class="caption">Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate in Caracas [AFP]</td>
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<p dir="ltr"><span><br></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The growing political crisis comes against the backdrop of major economic uncertainty, exacerbated by years of recession and hyperinflation and widespread shortages of food and medicine.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Tensions escalated in January, when Guaido declared himself interim president and called Maduro a usurper following last year's presidential elections, which were largely boycotted by the opposition.</span></p>
<p class="speakable">The president, on the other hand, argues that Guaido is a puppet of Washington, dismissing his claim to the presidency as a plan from US-led external powers to control Venezuela's resources. Around 50 countries, including many Western states, have thrown their weight behind Guaido.</p>
<p class="speakable">US President Donald Trump, an opponent of Maduro, has said a "military option" is on the table. Opposition leaders in Venezuela have also said all options are considered, but a number of Latin American neighbours have opposed to the idea of a US intervention as a way of resolving the turmoil.</p>
<p class="speakable">Meanwhile, as the crisis keeps lingering, some analysts such as Javier Buenrostro argue the opposition is losing momentum internationally.</p>
<p>"I believe that international leaders are recognising that they rushed with this decision, and that maybe the conditions were not set for generating the change they were aiming for," Buenrostro, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, told Al Jazeera.</p>
<p>"Maybe a solution for this is for both sides to compromise. The opposition might need to accept that they can't have an 'all-or-nothing' situation. Both of them might need to reach to a middle point," he added.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>Additional reporting from Alicia Hernandez in Caracas </strong></em></p>
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<p class="article-vid-content">Venezuela: Covering a country gone wrong</p>
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SOURCE:
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<li data-guid="140629181745721" data-topic-name="Venezuela"><a onclick="sendGAEvent('Topics','click','Article Topics - Bottom');" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a></li>
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<hr><a name="article-1"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/venezuela-crisis-latest-updates-190123205835912.html" target="new-1"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(0)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(2)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="1"><h1>Venezuela in crisis: All the latest updates</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p class="speakable"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a> has plunged into a major political crisis amid a growing row over President <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro'</a>s future as the country's leader. </p>
<p class="speakable">Maduro started a second term on January 10, following a widely boycotted election last year that many foreign governments refused to recognise.</p>
<p class="speakable">On January 23, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/regional-powers-recognise-maduro-opponent-interim-president-190123224319592.html">Juan Guaido</a>, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president.</p>
<p>Shortly after Guaido took an oath swearing himself in, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/donald-trump.html">US President Donald Trump</a> publicly recognised him as the country's leader. </p>
<p>Maduro accused Guaido of staging a coup and ordered his arrest.</p>
<p>Here are all the latest updates as of Saturday March 9, a day in which both Maduro and Guaido have called supporters onto the streets.</p>
<h3>Guaido: We need to be united </h3>
<p>Juan Guaido calls on citizens to keep united and protesting. </p>
<p>"We will continue to mobilise," local media reports. </p>
<p>"We have to seize [more] spaces, as we did today in the Libertador municipality (...) We have to [do it] in a peaceful way, we must unite and come together," he says.</p>
<p>"I come to ask for your trust. We can not be victims of misinformation," he adds.</p>
<p>Guaido warns that hard days will come. "The [government] will try to divide us."</p>
<p>"They want to demobilise us, it's up to us. Let's not fall, the game is to be united, together."</p>
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<td class="caption">Juan Guaido attends a rally against Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas [Ivan Alvarado/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Nicolas Maduro: 'Yankee Go Home!' </h3>
<p>As government supporters take out to the streets in support of Nicolas Maduro, he writes on Twitter it's time for the US to go home.</p>
<p>"Today when the US empire, in its desperation to get hold of our natural resources, intensifies its brutal aggressions against the Homeland, we firmly stand up to defend our land and scream with force: Yankee Go Home! We are Anti-imperialists!," he writes on Twitter. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Hoy, cuando el imperio de los EE.UU., en su desespero por echarle mano a nuestros recursos naturales, intensifica sus brutales agresiones contra la Patria, nos plantamos con firmeza para defender nuestra tierra y gritar con fuerza: ¡Yankee Go Home! ¡Somos Antiimperialistas! <a href="https://t.co/eGeU3qHZqB">pic.twitter.com/eGeU3qHZqB</a></p>
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolasMaduro/status/1104432249246830592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>'Protesters take over the streets' </h3>
<p>Opposition protesters have accessed a part of western Caracas after "pushing hard."</p>
<p>"Very early in the morning there were lots of tensions because the police wouldn't allow people here," Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo reports from western Caracas. </p>
<p>"After pushing hard protesters took over the streets.</p>
<p>"The government has been really careful in not repressing people, especially after the US has threatened with serious actions if they touch people like Juan Guaido or protesters," Bo says. </p>
<h3>Police block opposition protesters</h3>
<p>Riot police are blocking protesters in western Caracas as hundreds of people are taking to the streets. </p>
<p>"We want to march! Yes we can!" the opposition protesters are heard shouting, as riot police prevent them from accessing the area where their demonstration is due to take place.</p>
<h3>Government supporters are in the streets</h3>
<p><span>The ruling Socialist Party has called for a march near the presidential palace in central-west Caracas to protest against what it calls US imperialism, which has levied crippling oil sanctions on Maduro's government in efforts to cut off its sources of funding.</span></p>
<p>"Today we are - more than ever before - anti-imperialists," Maduro writes on Twitter.</p>
<p>"We will never give up."</p>
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<td class="caption"> Government supporters are seen in the streets [AFP]</td>
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<h3>Guaido: People will surprise [the government]</h3>
<p>For his part, Guaido also writes on Twitter: "They think they can scare us, but the people and the street will surprise them.</p>
<p>"They intend to wear us down, but they can't contain a nation that is determined to stop the usurpation.</p>
<p>"Today we will show them in the streets."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Creen que van a meternos miedo hoy, pero se van a llevar una sorpresa de Pueblo y de calle. <br><br> Pretenden jugar al desgaste, pero ya no tienen manera de contener a un Pueblo que está decidido a concretar el cese de la usurpación. <br><br> Y hoy lo vamos a demostrar en las calles. Atentos.</p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1104390352927145984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>'Extremely tense situation'</h3>
<p>Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo, reporting from Caraca, says opposition supporters have started gathering in western Caracas to protest against Maduro's politicies.</p>
<p>"It's an extremely tense situation, because the Bolivarian National Guard and the police are just about half away from the block [away] ... and people are screaming on their faces, telling them to join in, in their fight against Maduro," she says.</p>
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<td class="caption">Opposition supporters take part in anti-Maduro rally [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]</td>
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<h2>Friday, March 8</h2>
<h3>Maduro, Guaido rallies set for Saturday</h3>
<p>Thousands of Venezuelans are expected to take to the streets on Saturday as Guaido cranks up the pressure on Maduro. <br><br> Both men, who are locked in a bitter power struggle for the right to lead the oil-rich South American nation, have asked their supporters to fill the streets of Caracas and other cities.</p>
<p>"The US Empire, once again, underestimates the conscience and determination of the Venezuelan people," Maduro writes on Twitter.</p>
<p>"I assure you, that every attempt at imperial aggression will be met with a strong response."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">El imperio de los EE.UU., una vez más, subestima la conciencia y determinación del pueblo venezolano. Les aseguro, que cada intento de agresión imperial se encontrará con una respuesta contundente de las y los patriotas que amamos y defendemos, con valentía, nuestra Patria.</p>
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolasMaduro/status/1104349127113089024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2019</a>
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Guaido also makes a call on Twitter: <br><br> "Tomorrow, I call on the Venezuelan people to make a huge statement in the streets against the usurper, corrupt and incapable regime that has plunged our country into darkness." <br><br> "We return to the streets and we won't leave until we reach the goal," writes the 35-year-old National Assembly leader.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">¡Venezuela a la calle! <br><br> Mañana convoco a todo el pueblo venezolano a expresarnos masivamente en las calles contra el régimen usurpador, corrupto e incapaz que ha puesto a oscuras a nuestro país. <br><br> El cese de la usurpación será el cese de la oscuridad. <br><br> ¡Vamos Venezuela! <a href="https://t.co/cmEnO60KBL">pic.twitter.com/cmEnO60KBL</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1104191091740499969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Power restored to parts of Venezuela</h3>
<p>A blackout is reported to have hit 22 of 23 states, striking during the peak of evening rush hour on Thursday. </p>
<p><span>By early Friday afternoon, residents and state broadcaster VTV report that power is starting to return to parts of Caracas. </span>Neither Socialist Party officials nor state power company Corpoelec have provided further updates on the situation.</p>
<p>"Today the [government says] the blackout, of more than 15 hours, is the product of an external sabotage," Guaido says on Twitter. </p>
<p>"Sabotage is stealing money from Venezuelans. Sabotage is burning food and medicine. Sabotage is stealing elections."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Hoy declaran que el apagón, de más de 15 horas, es producto de un saboteo externo. <br><br> Saboteo es la corrupción, saboteo es que no permitieron elecciones, saboteo es que bloquearon la entrada de comida y medicinas. <br><br> El único saboteo es el del usurpador a todo el pueblo Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/A3dh0vWI7N">pic.twitter.com/A3dh0vWI7N</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1104044966425313280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Regional lender to vote on Venezuela's opposition representative</h3>
<p>Member countries of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) will vote the next week on accepting a representative from Fuaido to the board of the regional lender, bank officials say.</p>
<p>The 48-member board of governors will have until Friday, March 15, to vote on the issue. It is not clear what would happen to Maduro's representative on the board.</p>
<p>Guaido, who has the support of 57 countries, has named Harvard University economist Ricardo Hausmann as the country's representative to the IADB.</p>
<h3>Ex-Venezuelan vice president accused of aiding drug dealers </h3>
<p>Former Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami has been criminally charged in New York federal court, accused of using his office to aid international drug traffickers.</p>
<p>El Aissami and a Venezuelan businessman, Samark Jose Lopez Bello, were charged on Friday with violating the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and US Treasury Department sanctions. </p>
<p>US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said El Aissami, now Venezuela’s minister of industry and national production, hired US companies to provide private jets in violation of sanctions.</p>
<p>Angel Melendez, who heads New York's US immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, said El Aissami and Lopez Bello are now wanted in New York.</p>
<h3>US gives time for Venezuela sanctions compliance</h3>
<p>The Trump administration is granting US companies more time to comply with sanctions barring transactions with Venezuela's state-run oil company. </p>
<p>The Treasury Department said firms have until May 10 to wind down and close their business with oil company PDVSA.</p>
<p>PDVSA was hit with US sanctions on January 28 in a step that caught some American companies by surprise. The sanctions had the effect of stranding several oil tankers at and near Venezuelan ports because their cargoes were unable to be legally paid for.</p>
<p>Treasury said on Friday the extension will allow certain financial contracts agreed upon before January 28 to be completed.</p>
<h3><span>US will not use force to deliver aid: Trump's Venezuela envoy</span></h3>
<p><span>The United States will not use force to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela, US President Donald Trump's special representative for Venezuela said on Friday, after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's forces blocked aid convoys at the border last month.</span></p>
<p><span>"The United States government has said that we will not use force to deliver that aid, and the Colombian government has said the same thing, so obviously we agree with that view and would not be involved in any actions that would be contrary to that view," the envoy, Elliott Abrams, told reporters.</span></p>
<h3>Venezuela shuts schools, suspends working day as blackout continues</h3>
<p>Venezuela's government shut schools and suspended working hours on Friday after the capital Caracas and other major cities awoke without electricity due to a problem that struck the South American country's main hydroelectric plant on Thursday.</p>
<p>President Nicolas Maduro "has suspended classes and the working day today in order to facilitate the efforts for the recovery of electric service in the country," wrote Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on her Twitter account.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Pdte <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolasMaduro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NicolasMaduro</a> ha suspendido las clases y jornadas laborales el día d hoy, en aras de facilitar los trabajos y esfuerzos para la recuperación del servicio eléctrico enel país, víctima dela guerra eléctrica imperial! Unidos los venezolanos venceremos! Los golpistas no pasarán <a href="https://t.co/h6ejawA3RW">https://t.co/h6ejawA3RW</a></p>
— Delcy Rodríguez (@DrodriguezVen) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrodriguezVen/status/1103973851124432897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a>
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</script><h3>UN opens first reception centre for Venezuelans in Colombia</h3>
<p>The UN refugee agency said it is opening its first reception centre in Colombia to support people leaving neighbouring Venezuela.</p>
<p>UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said the centre set up along with Colombian authorities in the border city of Maicao will open on Friday and can initially take in up to 350 people, with "possibility to grow" in the future.</p>
<p>The Geneva-based agency said on Friday that hundreds of people including children, the elderly and those with medical conditions are "forced to live on the streets" because of a lack of shelter in Maicao.</p>
<p>UNHCR said 2.7 million Venezuelans have left their crisis-ridden country since 2015, and Colombia is the country most-affected by the outflow, with more than 1.1 million.</p>
<h3>China warns of repeating history's mistakes with Venezuela</h3>
<p>The Chinese government's top diplomat issued a stern warning on Friday against interfering in Venezuela and imposing sanctions, saying history offered a clear lesson about not "following the same old disastrous road".</p>
<p>China has repeatedly called for outsiders not to interfere in Venezuela's internal affairs and has stuck by embattled President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>State Councillor Wang Yi, responding to a question on whether China still recognised Maduro or had contacts with the opposition, said the sovereignty and independence of Latin American countries should be respected.</p>
<h2>Thursday, March 7</h2>
<h3>Venezuela hit by major blackout, government blames act of 'sabotage'</h3>
<p>A major power outage hit crisis-stricken Venezuela on Thursday, according to Reuters witnesses, a problem the government of President Nicolas Maduro quickly blamed on "sabotage" at a hydroelectric dam that provides much of the country's power.</p>
<p>Electricity outages are frequent in Venezuela, where the economy is collapsing under hyperinflation, with chronic shortages of food and medicine and a mass emigration of more than three million citizens.</p>
<p>Critics say corruption and under investment have left the country's power grid unable to function, while Maduro said the problems are intentionally created by political adversaries.</p>
<p>Local media and Twitter users reported that the outage was affecting the capital of Caracas as well as 15 of the country's 23 states. A reporter for state television described it as a "national blackout."</p>
<h3>Trump's Venezuela envoy vows sanctions on banks supporting Maduro</h3>
<p>US President Donald Trump's special representative for Venezuela pledged on Thursday that Washington would "expand the net" of sanctions on the South American nation, including more on banks supporting President Nicolas Maduro's government.</p>
<p>"There will be more sanctions on financial institutions that are carrying out the orders of the Maduro regime," Elliott Abrams told a US Senate subcommittee hearing.</p>
<h3><strong><span>Venezuela opposition leader says government 'threatening' Germany</span></strong></h3>
<p>Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido said in an interview the expulsion of the German ambassador by Caracas was a threat against Germany, Der Spiegel magazine reported.</p>
<p>"This action represents a threat against Germany," Guaido was quoted as saying.</p>
<p>German ambassador Daniel Kriener was expelled two days after he and diplomats from other embassies welcomed home Guaido at Caracas' airport.</p>
<p>The opposition leader also urged European countries to increase sanctions against the government of Nicolas Maduro. </p>
<h3>EU disappointed with Venezuela's expulsion of German envoy</h3>
<p>The European Union said it was disappointed that Venezuela's government has ordered the German ambassador to leave the country after he expressed support for opposition leader Juan Guaido.</p>
<p>European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said on Thursday that the EU wants to continue its dialogue with all political forces in the country.</p>
<p>"Despite the tense and complex political context, the EU has been keen to maintain lines of communication with all key parties including the government," Kocijancic said. "In that respect, the EU hopes that this decision can be reconsidered."</p>
<h3>German minister: Envoys helped prevent Guaido arrest</h3>
<p>Germany's foreign minister says the presence of foreign diplomats at the Caracas airport on Monday helped prevent the arrest of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.</p>
<p>Heiko Maas said on Thursday he expressly asked Germany's ambassador to Venezuela, Daniel Kriener, to join other envoys at the airport.</p>
<p>He told reporters in Berlin on that "there was information that [Guaido] was meant to be arrested there, and I think the presence of various ambassadors contributed to helping prevent this arrest."</p>
<p>On Wednesday, the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced it was giving Kriener 48 hours to leave the country, a move seen as a response to Germany's support for Guaido.</p>
<h2><strong>Wednesday, March 6</strong></h2>
<h3>
<strong>Venezuela releases US journalist after day in custody</strong> </h3>
<p>A US journalist detained by Venezuelan security services was released after more than 12 hours in custody.</p>
<p>Venezuelan freed American reporter Cody Weddle following his arrest in the morning.</p>
<p>Miami television station WPLG Local 10, one of the outlets for which Weddle worked, said he was at the main Caracas-area airport waiting for a US-bound flight. </p>
<p>Weddle, who worked in Venezuela for several years as a correspondent for a variety of US media, "has been released after being detained by Venezuelan authorities", the network announced on Twitter. </p>
<p>The release was also announced by Senator Marco Rubio, a strident critic of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>"We know that members of the military intelligence directorate appeared at his home this morning to ask him questions about his coverage on the border," said Carlos Correa from the NGO Espacio Publico.</p>
<h3>US demands release of American journalist</h3>
<p>The US demands the "immediate release" of an American journalist who is reported to have been detained in Caracas.</p>
<p>Cody Weddle has worked in Venezuela for several years as a correspondent for a variety of US media, including ABC News and the Miami Herald. <br><br> Kimberly Breier, the US assistant secretary of state for hemispheric affairs, says that the State Department is "aware of and deeply concerned" by the reports that an American journalist was detained.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a> is aware of and deeply concerned with reports that another U.S. journalist has been detained in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maduro?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maduro</a>, who prefers to stifle the truth rather than face it. Being a journalist is not a crime. We demand the journalist's immediate release, unharmed.</p>
— Kimberly Breier (@WHAAsstSecty) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHAAsstSecty/status/1103365672040570881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2019</a>
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<h3>PDVSA declares maritime emergency: Reuters</h3>
<p>Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA declared a maritime emergency on Tuesday after German shipping firm Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) disclosed plans to return ten tankers over unpaid fees, according to a document from the state-run firm, Reuters reports. </p>
<p>BSM, operator of a portion of PDVSA's tanker fleet, last month confirmed its crews would abandon the tankers Rio Arauca and Parnaso, which were held in Portugal over unpaid fees to a shipyard and port authority.</p>
<p>A third vessel also operated by BSM, the Icaro, separately was seised in Curacao by a group of shipping firms claiming unpaid bills from PDVSA.</p>
<h3>US to revoke visas of 77 others tied to Maduro </h3>
<p>The US is set to revoke the visas of 77 people associated with Maduro, US Vice President Mike Pence says, adding to a list of 49 others whose visas were revoked on Friday.</p>
<p>"Today the State Department is announcing that the United States will revoke 77 visas, including many officials of the Maduro regime and their families," Pence says in a speech.</p>
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<span>The US is set to revoke the visas of 77 people associated with Maduro </span> [File:Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Berlin says expulsion 'aggravates situation'</h3>
<p>Berlin says Venezuela's expulsion of the German ambassador over his backing of Juan Guaido only aggravated the situation.</p>
<p>"It's an incomprehensible decision which aggravates the situation," Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says in a statement.</p>
<p>"Our support for Guaido remains unbroken, ambassador Kriener is doing an excellent job," he adds. </p>
<h3>Venezuela expels German ambassador</h3>
<p>The government has given the German ambassador 48 hours to leave the country after he expressed support for Guaido.</p>
<p>Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweets a statement saying ambassador Daniel Kriener interfered in Venezuela's internal affairs and allied himself with "extremist sectors" of the opposition.</p>
<p>Venezuela considers it unacceptable that a foreign diplomat would take on "a public role more appropriate to that of a political leader," the statement reads.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">El Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela hace del conocimiento público la decisión de declarar persona non grata al Embajador de la República Federal de Alemania, Daniel Kriener, ante sus recurrentes actos de injerencia en los asuntos internos del país. Comunicado: <a href="https://t.co/qqo6FyKiM0">pic.twitter.com/qqo6FyKiM0</a></p>
— Jorge Arreaza M (@jaarreaza) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaarreaza/status/1103310830660128768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>US puts financial institutions 'on notice' on Venezuela transactions</h3>
<p>White House national security adviser John Bolton warns foreign banks and other financial institutions that they will face US sanctions for "illegitimate" transactions that benefit Maduro and his network.</p>
<p>"The United States is putting foreign financial institutions on notice that they will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate transactions that benefit <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a> and his corrupt network," Bolton says in a statement released by the White House.</p>
<h3>National Assembly to discuss the economic crisis</h3>
<p>Venezuela's National Assembly will discuss today the economic crisis hitting the country and the clashes that took place in an indigenous community in <span>Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela, two weeks ago, when humanitarian aid was expected to enter the country. </span></p>
<p><a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/venezuela-closes-colombia-border-aid-row-turns-deadly-190223065132911.html">Residents say</a> that an indigenous couple were killed and at least 15 people were injured. </p>
<p><a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/juan-guaido.html">Guaido</a> is also expected to present a report of his tour in South America. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/6Mar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#6Mar</a> <br><br> Propuesta de Orden del Día. Sesión Ordinaria. <a href="https://t.co/32YLNM7Ooc">pic.twitter.com/32YLNM7Ooc</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1103289607360258051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Michelle Bachelet: Sanctions have worsened the crisis </h3>
<p>Sanctions have "exacerbated" the crisis in <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a>, the UN human rights chief says, after the United States warned it may expand the measures it has imposed targeting <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html"> Nicolas Maduro </a> 's government. <br><br> "Venezuela clearly illustrates the way violations of civil and political rights - including failure to uphold fundamental freedoms, and the independence of key institutions - can accentuate a decline of economic and social rights," rights chief Michelle Bachelet says. </p>
<p>"This situation has been exacerbated by sanctions, and the resulting current political, economic, social and institutional crisis is alarming ... I will be further discussing this human rights situation, among other countries, on March 20," she adds.</p>
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<td class="caption">Michelle Bachelet attends a session of the Human Rights Council at the UN in Geneva [Denis Balibouse/Reuters]</td>
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<h2>Tuesday, March 5</h2>
<h3>Maduro says he will defeat 'minority of opportunists and cowards'</h3>
<p><a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a> said he would defeat a "crazed minority" determined to destabilise the country in his first public comment since Guaido returned to the country.</p>
<p>Maduro called on supporters to attend "anti-imperialist" demonstrations on March 9, coinciding with an opposition march announced by Guaido.</p>
<p>He expressed defiance towards opposition forces, belittling a "minority of opportunists and cowards" and vowing to "stop them in their tracks".</p>
<p>"The crazed minority continues in their bitterness. We are going to defeat them, be absolutely sure," said Maduro. </p>
<p><span>"We are on the right side of history," he added, using the same words previously used by Guaido referring to the opposition.</span></p>
<p>The president says Venezuela is a victim of a US-led economic war and accuses Guaido of leading a coup orchestrated by the American government. He has vowed the opposition leader will "face justice".</p>
<p>Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, told Russian state media Guaido is "trying to seize power" upon the "direct order" of Washington.</p>
<h3><strong><span>US eyes new sanctions against Venezuela</span></strong></h3>
<p>The US is considering imposing new sanctions on Venezuela to pressure Maduro's government to give up power, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said.</p>
<p>"We're looking at new sanctions, new measures to tighten our grip on Maduro's financial wherewithal, to deny his regime the money that they need to stay in power," Bolton told Fox Business Network.</p>
<p>Maduro has described opposition to his rule as an attempted coup by the US and its allies.</p>
<h3>US envoy: hard to see role for Maduro in Venezuela's future</h3>
<p>Washington's top envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said it was hard to see a role for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the building of a "democratic Venezuela".</p>
<p>"If he wanted to build a democratic Venezuela, he had the opportunity to do so, but he did not," Abrams told reporters. "It is extremely difficult to see how he could play a positive role in a democratic election," he said, adding that it was ultimately up to Venezuelans to decide Maduro's future role.</p>
<p>Abrams also said that imposing US secondary sanctions against non-US citizens or entities tied to the Maduro government was "clearly a possibility", although he said a decision had not been made on taking such a step.</p>
<h3>Guaido attends a meeting with public employees </h3>
<p>Guaido speaks during a meeting <span>with workers and unions representatives in Caracas.</span></p>
<p><span>Al Jazeera's Manuel Rapalo reporting from Cucuta says Guaido has wasted no time since returning from a tour of several South American countries.</span></p>
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<p><span>"Guaido is meeting with public sector employees," Rapalo says. </span></p>
<p><span>"They are a very important group, he sees them as traditionally loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, so the goal here is to win over their support." <br></span></p>
<p>"[One of the] main points that he has been making to these public sector employees ... is securing legislation that can guarantee that their jobs will still exist once there is a transitional government in place."</p>
<p>"He also wants a census, and get an idea of exactly how many public sector employees there are in Venezuela ... and he wants to call for a national strike.. to continue this momentum ... and continue the pressure against the government of Nicolas Maduro. "</p>
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<h3>Nicolas Maduro: Hugo Chavez, you'll live forever </h3>
<p>Maduro remembers the late President Hugo Chavez.</p>
<p>"Comandante Chavez, six years have passed [since your departure] and it still hurts ... thanks to your teachings and your example, today we continue in a permanent struggle against the enemies who tried to silence your voice so many times. You will live forever, in every victory!" Maduro writes on Twitter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Comandante Chávez, han transcurrido 6 años de tu siembra y aún duele, como ayer, tu partida. Gracias a tus enseñanzas y a tu ejemplo, hoy continuamos en lucha permanente contra los enemigos que intentaron apagar tu voz tantas veces. ¡Vivirás por siempre en cada victoria! <a href="https://t.co/SXDRPBTDvL">pic.twitter.com/SXDRPBTDvL</a></p>
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolasMaduro/status/1102926436682424328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Guaido to meet state workers</h3>
<p>Juan Guaido will meet with workers, public employees and unions representatives at the Colegio de Ingenieros (Engineers Association).</p>
<p>"We will meet with our public employees," Guaido writes on Twitter. <br> <br> "We are going to take the first steps to recover our bureaucracy and continue building the capacities inside and outside our country that [will] allow us to stop the usurpation, the transitional government and free elections."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/5Mar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#5Mar</a> <br> Nos reuniremos con nuestros empleados públicos. <br><br> Vamos a dar los primeros pasos para recuperar nuestra burocracia y seguir construyendo las capacidades dentro y fuera de nuestro país que nos permitan el cese de la usurpación, el gobierno de transición y elecciones libres.</p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1102883400032096256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Cuba remembers Hugo Chavez</h3>
<p>Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel remembers Hugo Chavez, who died six years ago.</p>
<p>"The children of the Bolivarian Revolution today pay tribute to him, fighting bravely", he writes on his Twitter account.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Seis años de sentida ausencia del mejor amigo de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cuba?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cuba</a>. Los hijos de la Revolución Bolivariana hoy le rinden tributo, peleando bravamente. En ellos <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ch%C3%A1vez?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chávez</a> vive, con su amor y su coraje, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HastaLaVictoriaSIempre?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HastaLaVictoriaSIempre</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManosFueraDeVenezuela?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManosFueraDeVenezuela</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomosCuba?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SomosCuba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomosContinuidad?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SomosContinuidad</a> 🇨🇺🇻🇪 <a href="https://t.co/luuZWhTNnz">pic.twitter.com/luuZWhTNnz</a></p>
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DiazCanelB/status/1102906587746918400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h2>Monday, March 5</h2>
<h3>UN calls for dialogue </h3>
<p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is stressing that the only way the political conflict in Venezuela can be resolved is through political dialogue.</p>
<p><a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/organisations/un.html">UN</a> spokesman Stephane Dujarric notes reports that <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/juan-guaido-calls-mass-protests-return-venezuela-190304024614251.html">Juan Guaido</a> returned without incident to Caracas on Monday. </p>
<p>Dujarric says UN officials "obviously remain very concerned about the situation in <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a>."</p>
<p>And he says it's important that "all political actors in Venezuela and abroad make all efforts to lower tensions."</p>
<h3>Guaido speaks to supporters in Caracas</h3>
<p>Juan Guaido is speaking to supporters at a Caracas demonstration after he returned to the country despite warnings he might face arrest.</p>
<p>Guaido is greeted with cheers and applause at the rally of several thousand people in the Las Mercedes neighbourhood in the Venezuelan capital. He tells the demonstrators: "We're much stronger than ever."</p>
<p>"Guaido arrives to a hero's welcome," Vanessa Neuman a Latin American analyst tells Al Jazeera.</p>
<p>"Guaido [has] done what didn't seem possible just a few months ago, to unify the Venezuelan opposition, the political parties and the people, to inspire hope ... it also really puts the regime on the back foot, they had said they would arrest him, but ... if they arrest him now there will be a massive uprising ... and by not arresting him, Maduro looks weaker than ever," she explains. </p>
<p>Guaido calls for a march on Saturday to increase pressure on <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a>. </p>
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<td class="caption">Juan Guaido reacts during a rally held by his supporters against Nicolas Maduro's government [Manaure Quintero/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Guaido: We've entered Venezuela</h3>
<p>The opposition leader announces he is already in the country.</p>
<p><em>"</em>We entered Venezuela, we are free citizens, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Already feeling the sun in La Guaira," he writes on Twitter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Entramos a Venezuela como ciudadanos libres, que nadie nos diga lo contrario. <br><br> Ya sintiendo mi Sol de La Guaira, el brio del pueblo que nos esperó aquí. <br><br><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosBien?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosBien</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosJuntosALaCalle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosJuntosALaCalle</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1102607982532136961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Pence: Guaido must be allowed to reenter Venezuela safely </h3>
<p>Vice President Mike Pence says the safe return of Guaido is a high priority for the US.</p>
<p>"Any <span>threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated." </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JGuaido</a>'s safe return to Venezuela is of the highest importance to the U.S. Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated & will be met with swift response. The world is watching - Interim President Guaido must be allowed to re-enter Venezuela safely.</p>
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1102602809416052737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Venezuela's Guaido arrives at Caracas airport: reports </h3>
<p>Guaido has returned to Venezuela after a tour of South American nations, according to local television footage.</p>
<p><span>"Back in our beloved country! Venezuela, we just passed through immigration and we will now head to where our people are," he says on Twitter just after arriving.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Ya en nuestra tierra amada! Venezuela, acabamos de pasar migración y nos movilizaremos a dónde está nuestro pueblo!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosJuntosALaCalle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosJuntosALaCalle</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1102605307501518849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Several European ambassadors who support his campaign for a change of leadership in Venezuela are at the airport waiting for him.</span></p>
<h3>Guaido supporters gather in Caracas</h3>
<p>Flag-waving Venezuelans turns out to await the return of Guaido, who is defying the threat of arrest as he embarks on a renewed push against Maduro. <br><br> In a video shared on social networks, Guaido warned that if Maduro's government "tries to kidnap us ... it will be one of the last mistakes it makes."</p>
<p><span>"He's going to enter the country under their noses," says Maria Garrido, 62, who attends the rally from El Cafetal with a Venezuelan flag. </span></p>
<p><span>"That boy has proven to be smarter than the whole government," she adds.</span></p>
<p>Antonio Rangel, an unemployed engineer who now sells bread and sweets to support his family, expresses hope for the country.</p>
<p>"The difference is that now we have hope. I'm not tired, I'm not defeated, the only thing I'm tired of is Maduro and his friends," Rangel tells Al Jazeera. "They need to leave."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">11:02 Así se encuentra la Plaza Alfredo Sadel tras la convocatoria de la AN a una concentración en apoyo a Juan Guaidó. <a href="https://t.co/tYWdnfnijC">pic.twitter.com/tYWdnfnijC</a></p>
— Héctor Antolínez (@HectorAntolinez) <a href="https://twitter.com/HectorAntolinez/status/1102585654246989825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Journalist Hector Antolinez tweets from Caracas: This is the Alfredo Sadel square, [people are here] in support of Juan Guaido. </p>
<p><em><em>Reporting by Erika Fiorucci from Caracas</em> </em></p>
<h3>Guaido says he is on his way home </h3>
<p>Guaido says he is on his way home.</p>
<p>Guaido tweets an audio message and announces he is heading back to Venezuela, though details about his exact whereabouts remains a mystery. </p>
<p>"Venezuelan brothers, the moment you hear this message, I will be on my way home, our home," Guaido says. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a> <br><br> Voy camino a casa. Regreso a seguir trabajando por nuestra ruta y a fortalecer la presión interna que nos permita liberar a nuestro país. <br><br> Les pido escuchen, difundan este audio y salgan a las 11 am a las calles <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosVzla?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosVzla</a><a href="https://t.co/9DxZExZtCv">https://t.co/9DxZExZtCv</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4MVzlaALaCalle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#4MVzlaALaCalle</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1102573477695959041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>US threatens tighter financial restrictions on Cuba</h3>
<p>The Trump administration threatens to put additional financial restrictions on Cuba's military and intelligence services amid the political turmoil in Venezuela.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cuba's role in usurping democracy and fomenting repression in Venezuela is clear. That's why the U.S. will continue to tighten financial restrictions on Cuba's military and intel services. The region's democracies should condemn the Cuba regime.</p>
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1102585160908849152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Maduro welcomes Carnival season</h3>
<p><a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a> welcomes the Carnival season. </p>
<p>"I invite the Venezuelan families to enjoy the festivities and the natural beauty that our beloved Venezuela offers us," he writes on Twitter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Invito a la familia venezolana a disfrutar de los <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CarnavalesFelices2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CarnavalesFelices2019</a> y de las bellezas naturales que nos brinda nuestra amada Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/R5VlVQSdxV">pic.twitter.com/R5VlVQSdxV</a></p>
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolasMaduro/status/1102577323029815296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>US warns Venezuela ahead of Guaido's arrival</h3>
<p>The <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/united-states.html">United States</a> warns the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro not to take action against <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/venezuela-guaido-return-home-risking-arrest-190303053748835.html">Juan Guaido</a>, who plans to return home on Monday.</p>
<p>US National Security Adviser John Bolton tweets that threats or action against Guaido "will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaido has announced his planned return to Venezuela. Any threats or acts against his safe return will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community.</p>
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1102388069846663169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h2>Sunday, March 3</h2>
<h3>Guaido calls for mass demonstration </h3>
<p>Guaido calls for nationwide demonstrations on Monday to coincide with his planned return to Venezuela.</p>
<p>On Sunday he tweets that Venezuelans should monitor his official announcements and that he would provide details about meeting points for supporters. He says they should gather across the country at 11:00am (3:00 GMT).</p>
<p>Translation: Tomorrow morning, at 11 am [let's go out to] the streets!</p>
<p>It is in the midst of uncertainty when faith becomes more powerful. # 4MVzlaALaCalle</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">¡Mañana lunes, 11 am. a la calle! <br><br> En medio de la incertidumbre cuando más poderosa se vuelve la fe.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4MVzlaALaCalle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#4MVzlaALaCalle</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1102375873980915715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Russia says it will prevent US military intervention</h3>
<p>Russia will do all possible to prevent a US military intervention in Venezuela, the TASS news agency quotes the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament as saying on Sunday.</p>
<p>"We are very much concerned that the USA could carry out any provocations to shed blood, to find a cause and reasons for intervention in Venezuela," Valentina Matvienko tells Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Moscow.</p>
<p><!-- PAGELOADEDSUCCESSFULLY--></p>
<h2>Saturday, March 2</h2>
<h3>Guaido says he will return home after Ecuador visit </h3>
<p>Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido says he will return home after a visit to Ecuador and calls for new protests next week against President Nicolas Maduro, whose government has banned him from travelling abroad.</p>
<p>Guaido has spent the past few days touring between Latin American countries to muster support for his campaign to form a transition government and oust Maduro, whom he denounces as an illegitimate usurper.</p>
<p>"I announce my return to the country and I call for mobilisations in all the national territory on Monday and Tuesday," Guaido wrote on Twitter. </p>
<p>Read <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/venezuela-guaido-return-home-risking-arrest-190303053748835.html">more</a></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a> <br><br> Anuncio mi regreso al país y la convocatoria de movilizaciones en todo el territorio nacional para este lunes y martes. <br><br> Difundamos este mensaje y estén muy atentos a nuestro llamado a través de las redes oficiales. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosBien?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosBien</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1102043638488477702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h2>Friday, March 1</h2>
<h3>US revokes visas of 49 Maduro associates</h3>
<p>The United States revoked the visas of 49 individuals aligned with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the State Department said on Friday.</p>
<p>The State Department said the restrictions applied to "individuals responsible for undermining Venezuela's democracy" and that the policy would be applied to "numerous" Maduro-aligned officials and their families".</p>
<p>The move came hours after the US sanctioned six Venezuelan security officials over blocking aid from getting into the country.</p>
<h3>Guaido to visit Ecuador on Saturday</h3>
<p>Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will visit Ecuador on Saturday, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno said on Friday.</p>
<p>The meeting is part of Guaido's tour of sympathetic regional allies that also includes meetings with heads of state in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">He conversado con el presidente <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jguaido</a>. Le he invitado a Ecuador para que reciba el afecto y respaldo de un pueblo que ama la democracia.</p>
— Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lenin/status/1101298900084903936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[
// ]]]] >
</script><p>TRANSLATION: I have spoken with President Juan Guaido. I have invited him to Ecuador to receive the affection and support of a democracy-loving nation. </p>
<h3>Guaido set to meet Macri in Argentina</h3>
<p>Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will travel to Argentina on Friday to meet President Mauricio Macri, according to Guaido's press team.</p>
<p>Argentina's Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting, saying that Guaido and Macri would hold a press conference on Friday.</p>
<p>Argentina is among the dozens of countries that support Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.</p>
<p>Guaido is currently in Paraguay as part of a whistle-stop tour intended to drum up support in the region and put pressure on Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro to step down.</p>
<h3>Guaido claims 600 military have left Maduro government</h3>
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<td class="caption">Guaido made the claims at a press conference with Ecuador's president [Jorge Adorno/Reuters]</td>
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<p>Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has said that 600 members of Venezuela's military have abandoned the government of Nicolas Maduro in recent days.</p>
<p>He made the announcement from the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, where he was meeting the country's President Mario Abdo Benitez.</p>
<p>Military support is seen as key to ensuring the stability of Maduro's rule. It is unclear how many members of the armed forces have defected. </p>
<h3>US discussing Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans: Abrams</h3>
<p>The Trump administration is<span> in the process of discussing proposals to grant Venezuelans Temporary Protected Status (TPS), <span>US Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters on Friday.</span> </span></p>
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<p><span><span>While no decision has been made, Abrams said the US will continue to take "appropriate actions" against the government of</span> </span> President Nicolas Maduro, including restricting travel visas for dozens of Maduro's associates.</p>
<p>He added that the US did not expect Russia or China to provide significant additional funds to Maduro's government, but acknowledged that their political support was a "help" to Maduro. </p>
<p>Abrams also voiced concerns over whether opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is currently in Paraguay, will be able to return safely to Venezuela.</p>
<h3>US sanctions six Venezuelan security officials over blocking aid</h3>
<p>The US Treasury Department issued fresh Venezuela-related sanctions on Friday against six individuals, according to a statement posted on its website.</p>
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<p>The sanctions target individuals associated with the "obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries into Venezuela", on February 23.</p>
<p>The United States also targeted Venezuela's government with new sanctions on Monday and called on allies to freeze the assets of state-owned PDVSA after deadly violence blocked humanitarian aid from reaching the country last weekend.</p>
<h3>Venezuela's Maduro moves an office of state oil company to Moscow: VP</h3>
<p>Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday that President Nicolas Maduro had ordered a European office of state oil company PDVSA to move to Moscow.</p>
<p>Rodriguez made the announcement following <span>talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Russian capital.</span></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Lavrov said Russia will counteract any attempts to intervene in Venezuela's domestic affairs.</p>
<p>Lavrov said a close cooperation with Venezuela was gaining "special importance" as the country faced "a frontal attack and a shameless intervention into its internal affairs."</p>
<h2>Thursday, February 28:</h2>
<h3>Russia and China block US push for UN action on Venezuela</h3>
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<td class="caption">Venezuela Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza speaks about the situation in Venezuela at the UNSC [Shannon Stapleton/Reuters]</td>
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<p>Russia and China vetoed on Thursday a US push for the United Nations Security Council to call for free and fair presidential elections in Venezuela and unhindered aid access.</p>
<p>The US draft resolution garnered the minimum nine votes, forcing Russia and China to cast vetoes.</p>
<p>South Africa also voted against the text, while Indonesia, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast abstained.</p>
<h3>Guaido plans to return to Caracas 'despite threats'</h3>
<p>Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Thursday he plans to return to Venezuela despite threats against himself and his family, and he plans to work out his return route this weekend.</p>
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<p>Speaking to reporters after meeting Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, Guaido said there was no chance of dialogue with the leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro without discussing elections.</p>
<p>Bolsonaro said during a joint statement with Guaido that he was the hope for restoring a "free, democratic and prosperous Venezuela".</p>
<p>Guaido said Maduro's 'regime' was weak and lacks support in the country and internationally.</p>
<h3>Brazil's president pledges full support for Guaido</h3>
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<td class="caption">Brazil is one of several regional allies that backs Juan Guaido [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]</td>
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<p>Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro pledged full support for Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido on Thursday.</p>
<p>Bolsonaro said that he wanted to see a free, democratic and prosperous Venezuela. </p>
<h3>Paraguay says Venezuela's Guaido to visit on Friday</h3>
<p>Paraguay President Mario Abdo said by tweet on Thursday that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will visit the country on Friday, as Guaido tries to drum up support in the region and put pressure on Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro to step down.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Mañana recibiremos la visita de nuestro querido amigo, Presidente Juan Guaidó en el Palacio de López.</p>
— Marito Abdo (@MaritoAbdo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaritoAbdo/status/1101169094680891392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[
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</script><p>TRANSLATION: Tomorrow we will receive a visit from our dear friend, President Juan Guaido in the Lopez Palace.</p>
<h2>Wednesday, February 27</h2>
<h3>US seeks UN vote on Venezuela for Thursday: diplomats</h3>
<p>The United States is seeking a vote Thursday at the UN Security Council on a draft resolution calling for "free, fair and credible" elections in Venezuela and free access for humanitarian aid, diplomats said. <br><br> Russia, an ally of President Nicolas Maduro's regime, is likely to use its veto power to oppose the text, which also expresses "deep concern with the violence and excessive use of force by Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, peaceful protesters."</p>
<h3>Guaido to meet Bolsonaro </h3>
<p>Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido is due to meet Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia late Wednesday, sources from both camps said. <br><br> Guaido will travel to the Brazilian capital from Colombia, where he has stayed since Friday despite a travel ban imposed on him by the regime of Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. <br><br> Brazil and Colombia are Guaido allies that have been holding humanitarian aid the National Assembly speaker wants to bring into Venezuela.</p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido speaks during a meeting of the Lima Group in Bogota [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Maduro, Trump should meet to 'find common ground': Venezuela FM</h3>
<p>Venezuela's foreign minister said that the United States was trying to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro and that his country had lost $30bn in assets "confiscated" since November 2017 under sanctions.</p>
<p>Jorge Arreaza, addressing the UN Human Rights Council despite a walk-out by dozens of Western envoys, suggested that Maduro and US President Donald Trump meet to "try to find common ground and explain their differences".</p>
<p>"We're calling for dialogue, dialogue with the United States - why not between Presidents Maduro and Trump? Why shouldn't they meet so that they could try to find common ground and explain their differences?"</p>
<p>Read more <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/maduro-trump-meet-find-common-ground-venezuela-fm-190227141350312.html">here</a>.</p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuela Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza addresses the 40th session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations [UN/Reuters]</td>
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<h2>Tuesday, February 26</h2>
<h3>US 'to impose more sanctions' on Venezuela this week and next week</h3>
<p>US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said on Tuesday that Washington would impose more sanctions on Caracas this week and next week to bring about additional pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whose legitimacy Washington has challenged.</p>
<p>Speaking ahead of a Security Council meeting on Venezuela sought by the United States, Abrams said he hoped the UN Security Council will vote this week on a resolution calling for Venezuela to allow the entry of humanitarian assistance into the country.</p>
<p>Abrams denied Russian accusations that the US is preparing for military intervention in Venezuela, but repeated that all options are on the table.</p>
<h3>Peru cancelling visas of Venezuelan diplomats at Lima embassy: official</h3>
<p>Peru is cancelling the visas of diplomats at the Venezuelan embassy in Lima, and will notify them that they will be in the country illegally starting from March 9, a Peruvian official said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Deputy Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela said in a broadcast interview with radio station RPP that Peru recognises Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's designated ambassador to Peru and will no longer acknowledge embassy officials appointed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<h3>Venezuela opposition's US envoy asks Trump to increase pressure on Maduro</h3>
<p>Carlos Vecchio, the Venezuelan opposition's envoy to the United States, met US President Donald Trump recently and asked him to increase pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro, Vecchio's office said in a statement on Tuesday.</p>
<h3>Mexico president refuses to choose sides in Venezuela conflict</h3>
<p>Mexico's president, asked about recognising Venezuela's Guaido, urged all parties to seek a peaceful situation to the conflict via dialogue.</p>
<p>Asked about the detention of journalists in Venezuela on Monday, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he did not want to involve himself in a polarised situation and remained committed to a policy of non-intervention in the affairs of other governments.</p>
<h3>Russian official accuses US of preparing military intervention in Venezuela</h3>
<p>Russia believes the United States is preparing a military intervention in Venezuela, the RIA news agency cited the secretary of Russia's Security Council as saying on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Nikolai Patrushev was also cited by the Interfax news agency as saying Russia had agreed to a proposal from Washington to hold consultations on Venezuela, a close ally of Moscow, but the United States had repeatedly postponed them on invented pretexts.</p>
<h2>Monday, February 25</h2>
<h3>Brazil wants non-military pressure on Venezuela </h3>
<p>Brazil's vice president, retired general Hamilton Mourao, said on Monday that under no circumstances would his country allow the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela from Brazilian territory.</p>
<p>In an interview with Globo News cable channel, Mourao said Brazil will do all it can to avoid a conflict with neighbouring Venezuela.</p>
<p>He spoke from Bogota, where he attended a meeting of the Lima Group, a bloc of nations from Argentina to Canada dedicated to peaceful resolution of the Venezuelan crisis.</p>
<h3>Pence on Venezuela: 'all options are on the table'</h3>
<p>Vice President Mike Pence reiterated the US position on Venezuela on Monday, insisting that a military intervention to force President Nicolas Maduro from power has not been ruled out.</p>
<p>"We hope for a peaceful transition to democracy. But President Trump has made it clear: all options are on the table," Pence said after meeting with Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido at a Lima Group gathering in Colombia.</p>
<h3>US asks UNSC to meet on Venezuela: diplomats</h3>
<p>The United States has asked the United Nations Security Council to meet to discuss the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday, said diplomats after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's troops repelled foreign aid convoys at the weekend.</p>
<p>The United States has been pushing the 15-member council to formally call for free, fair and credible presidential elections in Venezuela with international observers, a move that prompted Russia to propose a rival draft resolution. It was unclear if or when either draft text could be put to a vote.</p>
<p>Moscow and Washington have been at loggerheads over a US-led campaign for international recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader and head of the country's elected National Assembly Juan Guaido over Maduro. Guaido last month declared himself interim head of state.</p>
<h3>US sending aid for Venezuela migrant crisis</h3>
<p>Vice President Mike Pence says the United States is sending another $56m to neighbours of Venezuela to help them cope with migrants fleeing that nation's deepening crisis.</p>
<p>Pence said Monday that the United States has already provided more than $139m in aid to help Venezuela.</p>
<p>He spoke in Colombia's capital at a meeting of The Lima Group, a coalition of mostly Latin American nations formed to address Venezuela's turmoil.</p>
<p>Pence also met opposition congressional leader Juan Guaido, who has declared presidential powers, arguing that the reelection of socialist President Nicolas Maduro was invalid.</p>
<p>Pence said the US has sent five military transport planes with 400 tonnes of food and medicine to Colombia and Brazil.</p>
<p>Deadly clashes erupted over the weekend when Maduro refused to allow the aid cross, calling it part of a US-led coup.</p>
<h3>Mike Pence: President Guaido, we are with you </h3>
<p>US Vice President Mike Pence told Juan Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela's interim president, that the United States stands with him. </p>
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<p>"President Trump has asked me to convey a message to him, President Guaido: we are with you, and we will be until the freedom and democracy come back," he said. </p>
<p>"As of today, the United States will impose additional sanctions on the regime's officials."</p>
<p>Pence also asked Latin American nations to freeze Venezuela oil assets. </p>
<p>"We call on all Lima Group nations to immediately freeze the assets of PDVSA," he said.</p>
<p>"Secondly, transfer ownership of Venezuelan assets in your country from Maduro's henchmen to President Guaido's government," and he also called on the countries to restrict visas for officials close to Maduro and to vote to recognise the representative of Juan Guaido, Venezuela's self-declared interim president, at the Inter-American Development Bank.</p>
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<td class="caption">US Vice President Mike Pence and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido attend a meeting of the Lima Group in Bogota [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Guaido: We are here to recover Venezuela's democracy </h3>
<p>The opposition leader Juan Guaido is about to speak <span>in a meeting of the Lima Group</span> and has started requesting a "minute of silence for the massacre Venezuelans experienced on February 23," according to local media reports. </p>
<p>"This meeting is aimed at the recovery of democracy in Venezuela, and the respect for human rights. Today Maduro thinks that by blocking the humanitarian aid, he has gained a victory. They dance in Caracas, on top of indigenous tombs," he added.</p>
<p>"The dilemma is between a dictatorship and democracy. Between massacres or saving lives."</p>
<p>"Today the transition is being blocked by irregular armed groups," Guaido explained, "without those weapons we would have a pacific transition."</p>
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<td class="caption">US Vice President Mike Pence and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido observe a minute of silence in honour of the victims of February 23 [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters] </td>
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<h3>Colombia president wants to close circle around Maduro</h3>
<p>Colombia's President Ivan Duque called on members of the Lima Group meeting in Bogota on Monday to create a "more powerful and effective" ring around Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. <br><br> Duque, who met with Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido and US Vice President Mike Pence, said added pressure would facilitate the "rapid construction of the transition demanded by the Venezuelan people."</p>
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<td class="caption">Colombia's President Ivan Duque speaks during a meeting of the Lima Group [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>US ramps up pressure on Venezuela with fresh sanctions</h3>
<p>The US has imposed sanctions on four Venezuelans as it ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, whose election Washington sees as illegitimate.</p>
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<p>The action, which was announced in a post on the US Treasury's website, coincides with US Vice President Mike Pence attending a meeting of the regional Lima Group of nations in Bogota, where he was expected to announce steps against Maduro's government.</p>
<h3>Pence: Aid delivery violence steeled US resolve to back Guaido</h3>
<p>Violence during the attempted delivery of much-needed food and medicine to Venezuela over the weekend has steeled the United States's resolve to support opposition leader Juan Guaido, US Vice-President Mike Pence said on Monday.</p>
<p>The US will keep standing with Guaido until freedom is restored is the South American nation, Pence said at a meeting of the regional Lima Group bloc.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To President <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jguaido</a> of Venezuela, it is a great privilege to share this moment. I bring you and President of Colombia <a href="https://twitter.com/IvanDuque?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IvanDuque</a> a very simple message from <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Trump & the United States of America: We are with you 100%. <a href="https://t.co/iEaTyDvB7i">pic.twitter.com/iEaTyDvB7i</a></p>
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1100070405669351424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>China rebukes foreign opponents of Maduro</h3>
<p>China's foreign ministry has issued a rebuke to foreign opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying China opposes "intervention by external forces in the internal affairs of Venezuela."</p>
<p>Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang says China "also opposes using the so-called humanitarian aid to serve political ends and stir up instability and even turmoil in Venezuela and its neighborhood, which is not in the interests of any party."</p>
<h3>Lima Group begins meeting on next steps in Venezuela crisis</h3>
<p>Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido and US Vice President Mike Pence took part in a meeting of the Lima Group in Colombia on Monday to discuss a joint strategy to resolve Venezuela's crisis. <br><br> "In the Lima Group we're fighting to find a peaceful solution," said Peru's Foreign Affairs Minister Hugo de Zela.</p>
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<td class="caption">A group of demonstrators takes part in a protest as a meeting of the Lima Group. The placard reads 'No to the war, we defend life' [Carlos Julio Martinez/Reuters] </td>
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<h3>EU says military intervention in Venezuela must be avoided</h3>
<p>The European Union on Monday urged countries to avoid any military intervention in Venezuela, the spokeswoman for diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said. <br><br> "We must avoid a military intervention," Maja Kocijancic told reporters, as Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido was in Bogota to hold talks with allies in the regional Lima Group of countries on measures to compel President Nicolas Maduro to leave office.</p>
<h3>Evo Morales calls for dialogue </h3>
<p>Bolivian President Evo Morales called on the Lima Group to seek a solution for Venezuela on the basis of dialogue, as an option to avoid a war in Latin America. </p>
<p>"Brother Presidents of the Lima Group: Respecting our political differences and as democratically elected leaders, I ask you, with much respect, to seek a solution through dialogue as an option to save lives and prevent war from bringing destruction to our LA," Morales wrote on his Twitter account.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Hermanos Presidentes del Grupo de Lima: Respetando nuestras diferencias políticas y como líderes democráticamente electos les pido, con mucho respeto, que busquen una solución mediante el diálogo como opción para salvar vidas y evitar que la guerra traiga destrucción a nuestra AL</p>
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) <a href="https://twitter.com/evoespueblo/status/1099985267992248325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h2>Sunday, February 24</h2>
<h3>Pence to announce 'concrete steps' in Venezuela crisis </h3>
<p>US Vice President Mike Pence is set to announce "concrete steps" and "clear actions" to address the Venezuela crisis when he meets on Monday with regional leaders in Bogota, a senior US administration official said.</p>
<p>The official declined to comment on what the new measures would entail ahead of Pence's speech, which he will deliver to a summit of the Lima Group around 15:30 GMT after he meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jguaido</a> & all the people of Venezuela taking a stand for freedom & humanitarian relief: Estamos con ustedes. We are with you. As <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> said: 'The people of Venezuela are standing for freedom and democracy, and the USA is standing right by their side.' ¡Vayan con Dios!</p>
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1099379324657037312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>UN's high commissioner for human rights condemns violence </h3>
<p>Michele Bachelet condemned violence at points on the Venezuelan border where opposition figures have been trying to bring in aid shipments.</p>
<p>The former Chilean president focused her criticism on excessive use of force used by Venezuelan security forces, as well the involvement of pro-government groups.</p>
<p>"The Venezuelan government must stop its forces from using excessive force against unarmed protesters and ordinary citizens," she said. </p>
<p>Bachelet urged Maduro's government "to rein in" pro-government groups reportedly using force against protesters.</p>
<p>"The use of proxy forces has a long and sinister history in the region," she added, "it is very alarming to see them operating openly in this way in Venezuela."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">.<a href="https://twitter.com/mbachelet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mbachelet</a> condena violencia en las fronteras de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a>. "El Gobierno venezolano debe obligar a los cuerpos de seguridad a dejar de emplear el uso excesivo de la fuerza contra manifestantes desarmados y ciudadanos comunes" -> <a href="https://t.co/reQeRR7vVq">https://t.co/reQeRR7vVq</a> <a href="https://t.co/xmS7kRmnYP">pic.twitter.com/xmS7kRmnYP</a></p>
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHumanRights/status/1099748525989134337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Clashes along the border in Brazil</h3>
<p>Renewed clashes have broken out between protesters and Venezuelan national guardsmen at the border with Brazil.</p>
<p>Dozens of Venezuelans who had come to the Brazilian border city of Pacaraima began throwing rocks across the closed border at Venezuelan troops, who responded with tear gas and buckshot.</p>
<p>Globo television broadcast images of a Brazilian soldier advancing to the boundary line on Sunday to appeal for calm from the Venezuelan soldiers and to urge protesters and journalists to move back.</p>
<h3>Cleanup begins on Venezuela-Colombia border after unrest</h3>
<p>Venezuelan migrants on Sunday helped clean debris from a bridge where troops loyal to President Nicolas Maduro a day earlier fired tear gas on activists trying to deliver humanitarian aid in violent clashes that left two people dead and some 280 injured.</p>
<p>Colombian President Ivan Duque reinforced security around two international bridges near the city of Cucuta and ordered that they remain closed for 48 hours to allow for the cleanup effort.</p>
<h3>Colombia: At least 285 wounded in border clashes</h3>
<p>Civil defence officials in Colombia said at least 285 people had been wounded in clashes at border bridge crossings.</p>
<p>On Monday, the Lima Group will meet and discuss "the events that took place on Saturday in Venezuela," Colombia's President Ivan Duque wrote.</p>
<p>"[What happened] is clearly object of reproach by the international community, due to the barbarism and violence."</p>
<p>"[On Monday] we will also debate how to strengthen the diplomatic siege that we have imposed [against] the dictatorship in Venezuela," he added.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">El lunes, el Grupo de Lima se reunirá y discutirá sobre los hechos que hoy son claramente objeto de reproche de la comunidad internacional, por la barbarie y la violencia. Allí también se deliberará sobre cómo se debe arreciar el cerco diplomático a la dictadura en Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/g6Zh0Pf83Q">pic.twitter.com/g6Zh0Pf83Q</a></p>
— Iván Duque (@IvanDuque) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvanDuque/status/1099515079903580161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Two Venezuelan soldiers ask for asylum in Brazil: official</h3>
<p>Two Venezuelan soldiers have sought refuge in Brazil Colonel Georges Feres Kanaan, a member of Brazil's migration service, told AFP on Sunday. <br><br> Feres Kanaan said he was manning a welcoming post for Venezuelan migrants in Pacaraima on Brazil's border with its northwestern neighbour when the two soldiers "presented themselves asking for asylum."</p>
<h3>Pompeo: Maduro's 'days are numbered'</h3>
<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed confidence that President Nicolas Maduro's "days are numbered," amid a violent impasse over humanitarian aid. <br><br> "Predictions are difficult. Picking exact days is difficult," Pompeo told CNN. "[But] I'm confident that the Venezuelan people will ensure that Maduro's days are numbered."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The U.S. will take action against those who oppose the peaceful restoration of democracy in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a>. Now is the time to act in support of the needs of the desperate Venezuelan people. We stand in solidarity with those continuing their struggle for freedom. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EstamosUnidosVE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EstamosUnidosVE</a> <a href="https://t.co/XfLEsyT6Rj">pic.twitter.com/XfLEsyT6Rj</a></p>
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1099476061484658689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Mauricio Macri: 'The situation... is dramatic'</h3>
<p>Argentinian president Mauricio Macri has condemned the "repression used by the government of Nicolas Maduro" on Saturday.</p>
<p>The president accused the leader of "imposing suffering on his people".</p>
<p>"The situation that Venezuelans are living is dramatic. I want to condemn the repression deployed by Maduro and his actions to prevent Venezuelans from receiving humanitarian aid," he wrote on Twitter.</p>
<p>"Once again, I renew Argentina's support to the president in charge Juan Guaido, and support to the efforts that it carries out together with the National Assembly to allow the entry of food and medicines destined to alleviate the suffering that policies of the Maduro regime has imposed on all Venezuelan people."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">La situación en la que viven los venezolanos es dramática. Quiero condenar la represión desplegada por Maduro y sus acciones para impedir que el pueblo venezolano reciba la ayuda humanitaria</p>
— Mauricio Macri (@mauriciomacri) <a href="https://twitter.com/mauriciomacri/status/1099487927569170432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Una vez más renuevo el apoyo de Argentina al presidente encargado Juan Guaidó y a los esfuerzos de la Asamblea Nacional para lograr que lleguen los alimentos y las medicinas tan necesarios para aliviar el sufrimiento que Maduro ha impuesto sobre su propio pueblo</p>
— Mauricio Macri (@mauriciomacri) <a href="https://twitter.com/mauriciomacri/status/1099488176366854145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Brazil says Maduro's violence to block aid 'criminal act'</h3>
<p>Brazil condemned the violence used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government this weekend to block aid shipments from crossing the border, branding it a "criminal act" and calling on the international community to join efforts to "liberate" the South American nation.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Brazilian Army Colonel George Feres Kanaan told Reuters on Sunday that two Venezuelan national guard soldiers deserted to Brazil late Saturday, joining some 60 military officials who defected in Colombia.</p>
<h3>EU ready to boost aid to Venezuela: Mogherini</h3>
<p>The European Union said it was prepared to "scale up" humanitarian and development aid to ease the plight of Venezuelans. <br><br> "We recall our commitment to help those in need for as long as it takes, to scale up this assistance," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement in the name of the bloc's 28 members following deadly border clashes.</p>
<h2>Sunday, February 23 </h2>
<h3>'A long day of fighting' </h3>
<p>"The opposition has given up on getting the aid through at least for today," Al Jazeera's Alessandro Rampietti reported from Cucuta. </p>
<p>"Two of the four trucks carrying the aid have already left, the two remaining trucks are behind me and we have been told by some of the opposition officials that they are moving them back to the Tienditas bridge at the warehouse where most of the aid has been stored."</p>
<p>"The opposition is considering that they tried, at least for today... it's been a long day of fighting over this bridge, and in the bridge of Urenia, where two of the trucks were burned to the ground by people supporting President Nicolas Maduro," he added.</p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuelan youth run for cover from tear gas launched by Venezuela's National Guard [Fernando Vergara/AP]</td>
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<h3>Guaido: Maduro has violated international law</h3>
<p>Opposition leader Juan Guaido said that Maduro has violated international law by the way he has handled the aid.</p>
<p>"We keep receiving the support of the international community, they have been able to see how this usurper regime violates the Geneva protocol, where it clearly states that destroying aid is a crime against humanity," he wrote on Twitter. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Seguimos recibiendo el respaldo de la comunidad internacional, que ha podido ver, con sus propios ojos, como el régimen usurpador viola el protocolo de Ginebra, donde se dice claramente que destruir la ayuda humanitaria es un crimen de lesa humanidad.</p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1099403450008436738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<p><span>According to Colombian officials, 23 members of Venezuelan security forces deserted, and 12 people were wounded during clashes in the border.</span></p>
<h3>Maduro responsible for safety of Colombian embassy staff: Minister</h3>
<p> Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is responsible for the safety of Colombian diplomats in Venezuela, Colombia's foreign minister said on Saturday, after Maduro formally broke off relations with Bogota.</p>
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<p>"Colombia holds the usurper Maduro responsible for any aggression or violation of the rights of Colombian officials in Venezuela," Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Colombian Vice President, Marta Lucia Ramirez said that Maduro "cannot break a diplomatic relation that Colombia does not have with him."</p>
<p>"Our government has not named an ambassador there nor do we recognise Maduro's ambassador since his term ended on January 9." she wrote on Twitter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Querida <a href="https://twitter.com/patriciajaniot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@patriciajaniot</a> Maduro no puede romper relaciones diplomáticas que Colombia no tiene con él. Nuestro gobierno no ha nombrado embajador allá ni reconocemos embajador de Maduro pues su mandato terminó el 9 de enero. Es un simple dictador que ocupa por la fuerza Miraflores <a href="https://t.co/ze1NGfVfng">https://t.co/ze1NGfVfng</a></p>
— Marta Lucía Ramírez (@mluciaramirez) <a href="https://twitter.com/mluciaramirez/status/1099391084621455360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
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<h3>Two people killed in Venezuelan town near Brazil </h3>
<p>Two people were killed, and 18 have been injured, in the Venezuelan town of Santa Elena de Uairen in clashes with security forces over the opposition's plan to bring in aid from nearby Brazil, a doctor at the hospital where they were taken said.</p>
<h3>Venezuelans rescue aid from burning trucks </h3>
<p>Venezuelans are rushing to rescue boxes of emergency food and medicine from burning trucks stalled on a bridge to Colombia.</p>
<p>Fernando Flores, an eyewitness, said national guardsmen had torched the trucks once they crossed into Venezuelan territory.</p>
<p>Maduro has vowed to block any aid shipments, considering them a "Trojan horse" intended to pave the way for foreign military intervention</p>
<h3>Aid truck goes up in flames on Colombian border </h3>
<p>One truck in a convoy attempting to bring humanitarian aid into Venezuela from Colombia went up in flames on Saturday, sending plumes of dark smoke into the air, footage from a Venezuelan television channel showed.</p>
<p>Another truck almost went on fire on Urena's border. "The regimen is using the vilest acts and it has tried to burn a truck with humanitarian aid in Urena," Guaido wrote. </p>
<p>"Our brave volunteers are making a human chain to safeguard the food and medicines."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">El régimen usurpador se vale de los actos más viles e intenta quemar el camión con ayuda humanitaria que se encuentra en Ureña. <br><br> Nuestros valientes voluntarios están realizando una cadena para salvaguardar la comida y las medicinas. <br><br> La avalancha humanitaria es indetenible <a href="https://t.co/bU2PPzSGcu">pic.twitter.com/bU2PPzSGcu</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1099390816265650176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Guaido: Trucks are in Venezuela </h3>
<p>Opposition leader Guaido says humanitarian aid from Colombia has entered Venezuela, but Venezuelan forces have prevented them from moving any further.</p>
<p>"They won't be able to stop our decision to live in freedom." Guaido wrote. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">¡Atención Venezuela! <br><br> Anunciamos que los camiones de la ayuda humanitaria provenientes de Colombia ya están en territorio venezolano. <br><br> El régimen usurpador está impidiendo su paso. <br><br> No podrán con nuestra decisión irreversible de vivir en libertad. <br><br><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/23FAvalanchaHumanitaria?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#23FAvalanchaHumanitaria</a> <a href="https://t.co/PBFJnRnaJm">pic.twitter.com/PBFJnRnaJm</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1099369334319837184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Venezuela severs relations with Colombia</h3>
<p>Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro breaks diplomatic relations with neighbouring Colombia.</p>
<p>"Patience is exhausted, I can't bear it anymore, we can't keep putting up with Colombian territory being used for attacks against Venezuela. For that reason, I have decided to break all political and diplomatic relations with Colombia's fascist government," Maduro said in a speech.</p>
<h3>Maduro: 'I hold the reins, and I'll ... keep them in my hand'</h3>
<p>President Nicolas Maduro addressed thousands of supporters in Caracas and said:</p>
<p>"[For our] Dignity, we will fight harder than ever."</p>
<p>"Hard, standing and governing our motherland for now and for many years, on behalf of our destiny, with the reins in our hand.</p>
<p>"I hold the reins of the motherland, I hold the reins on behalf of the young people, university students, when I hold the reins, I'm holding them on your behalf, working mothers .. military members.. men and women alike ..."</p>
<p>"Today is February 23rd and a month ago exactly, at this under the same sun, I saw you at the Miraflores palace, we met there, and what did I tell you ... that days will go by, weeks will go by and Nicolas Maduro the worker's president will continue at the head of the motherland."</p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a pro-government march in Caracas [Yuri Cortez/AFP]</td>
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<h3>Security forces use tear gas in Simon Bolivar bridge: report</h3>
<p>Members of the Bolivarian police fired tear gas to remove people from Simon Bolivar's bridge, El Nacional, a local news agency reported.</p>
<p>"There are women that have fainted and are under the trucks," a Venezuelan citizen told media. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">1:52 pm. En el Puente Simón Bolívar también dispararon lacrimógenas cuando voluntarios intentaron avanzar con los camiones de ayuda humanitaria. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/23Feb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#23Feb</a> Vía <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNEE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNNEE</a> <a href="https://t.co/hYz98B04pK">pic.twitter.com/hYz98B04pK</a></p>
— Gabriel Bastidas (@Gbastidas) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gbastidas/status/1099367614801956865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Rival demonstrations in Caracas</h3>
<p>Thousands are flooding the streets of Venezuela's capital in rival demonstrations as opposition leaders vow to move shipments of humanitarian aid into the country despite objections from President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>In Caracas, Maduro loyalists marched by the thousands to the city centre to the sounds of brass bands, while others rode motorcycles.</p>
<p>Opposition supporters are converging on a Caracas military base, urging soldiers to join their fight. </p>
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<td class="caption">Supporters of the Venezuelan opposition leader take part in a rally in Caracas [Carlos Jasso/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Aid to be passed by human chain from Colombia </h3>
<p>A convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian assistance for Venezuela will be unloaded at the Simon Bolivar bridge on Colombia's side of the border and the aid will be transported by a human chain across the frontier, Colombia's migration agency said.</p>
<p>Al Jazeera's Alessandro Rampietti reporting from Colombia said this is so far "the biggest showdown on the battle for the legitimacy of Venezuela."</p>
<p>"You have President Nicolas Maduro that remains firmly in power, and you have the leader of the opposition, Juan Guiado, who declared himself the interim president who is saying that Maduro is nothing more than a usurper at this point."</p>
<p> "This action is very important because it's the way for the opposition to show that they are able to be successful in so far the biggest act of defiance against President Maduro. it would be a way for him to show some legitimacy and to show that he can bring some level of change in the country even if he doesn't control any level of power so far."</p>
<p>Meanwhile Caraca's former major Julio Borges told Al Jazeera that "a humanitarian crisis cannot turn into a political blade."</p>
<p>"People are here, because people in Venezuela are hungry <span>and they need help," he added.</span></p>
<p><span><strong><em>Additional reporting by Mia Alberti in Cucuta, Colombia</em></strong></span></p>
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<span>Trucks carrying humanitarian aid for</span><span class="highlight" data-qa-component="highlight-text"> Venezuela </span><span>in the area of a warehouse [Mia Alberti/Al Jazeera]</span>
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<h3>Aid shipment enters Venezuela via Brazil border: Guaido</h3>
<p>Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido announced that a first shipment of humanitarian aid had entered Venezuela through its border with Brazil. <br><br> "Attention Venezuela: We officially announce that the first shipment of humanitarian aid has now entered our border with Brazil. This is a great achievement, Venezuela!" wrote Guaido in a tweet.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">¡Atención Venezuela! <br><br> Anunciamos oficialmente que YA ENTRÓ el primer cargamento de ayuda humanitaria por nuestra frontera con Brasil. <br><br> ¡Esto es un gran logro, Venezuela! <br><br> ¡Seguimos! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/23FAvalanchaHumanitaria?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#23FAvalanchaHumanitaria</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1099340492117078018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Aid convoy leaves Colombian warehouses</h3>
<p>A convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Venezuela left warehouses in Colombia headed for the nearby border crossing, despite Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's insistence they would not be allowed to cross.</p>
<p>Speaking on the Colombian side of the border, opposition leader Juan Guaido called on troops to allow the convoy to cross. Alongside him, Colombian President Ivan Duque said Maduro would be responsible for any violence.</p>
<h3>Truck carrying aid crosses Brazil border: opposition lawmaker</h3>
<p>A truck carrying humanitarian aid crossed into Venezuela from Brazil at midday on Saturday, opposition lawmaker Miguel Pizarro told reporters in Caracas.</p>
<p>A Reuters witness said, however, that while the truck was on Venezuelan soil, it had not yet passed through the customs checkpoint.</p>
<h3>Guaido: Humanitarian aid on its way to Venezuela</h3>
<p><span>Opposition leader Juan Guaido gives a statement to the media alongside <span>Colombia's President Ivan Duque </span> </span> <span>and <span>Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez.</span> </span></p>
<p>US-donated aid is "on its way" to Venezuela, Guaido announced. <br><br> "The humanitarian aid is definitely going to Venezuela in a peaceful and calm manner to save lives at this time," said Guaido, at a ceremony to launch the effort on the Colombian side of the border in defiance of a blockade by President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>"This is a landmark point in our history" </p>
<p>"To the Generals and all the countries that have formed [part of] this coallition... we are eternally grateful to you all." he added. </p>
<p><strong><em>Additional reporting by Mia Alberti in Cucuta, Colombia</em></strong></p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido speaks to the media alongside Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez and Colombia's President Ivan Duque [Marco Bello/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Aid from Brazil sent to border with Venezuela</h3>
<p>The first truck with humanitarian aid from the Brazilian government has arrived in the city of Pacaraima on the border with Venezuela.</p>
<p>The crossing has been closed on orders from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the truck loaded with food and medicine will now wait in Brazilian territory.</p>
<p>Brazil's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said he expects Maduro's government to allow the aid to pass. <br> "It is very exciting to see people anxious to recover their freedom and have a decent life," Araujo said.</p>
<h3>Bolton: 'The world is watching'</h3>
<p>US President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton cancelled plans to travel to South Korea to prepare for a summit addressing North Korea's nuclear program in order to focus instead on events unfolding in Venezuela, his spokesman said on Friday.</p>
<p>National Security Adviser Jonh Bolton has sent a message to the military forces.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To Maduro's military cronies attacking civilians at the Brazilian border - the world is watching and the perpetrators will face justice. The Venezuelan military should protect civilians, not shoot them. <a href="https://t.co/dLDfqoknNz">https://t.co/dLDfqoknNz</a></p>
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1099168337660125184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Four Venezuelan soliders desert before aid handover</h3>
<p>Four National Guard troops at the frontier disavowed Maduro's government on Saturday, following an appeal from Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to let aid through.</p>
<p>A social media video showed the troops driving armoured vehicles across a bridge linking the two countries, knocking over metal barricades in the process, and then jumping out of the vehicles and running to the Colombian side.</p>
<p><span>Colombia's migration authority confirmed the defection of the four Venezuelan soldiers.</span></p>
<p>Opposition leader Juan Guaido expressed his support on Twitter in Spanish.</p>
<p><em>Translation: Venezuela, those guards and members of the Armed Forces who decide to join our fight are not defectors.</em></p>
<p><em>They have decided to side with the people and the Constitution!</em></p>
<p><em>Welcome! The arrival of Freedom and Democracy in Venezuela is already unstoppable.</em></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Venezuela: no son desertores aquellos guardias y efectivos de las FFAA que decidan sumarse a nuestra lucha. <br><br> ¡Han decidido ponerse del lado del Pueblo y de la Constitución! <br><br> ¡Bienvenidos! La llegada de la Libertad y la Democracia a Venezuela ya es indetenible. <a href="https://t.co/zojGluqAuo">pic.twitter.com/zojGluqAuo</a></p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1099298217307660288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Tear gas and rubber bullets</h3>
<p>Venezuelan security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Saturday to disperse a crowd demanding to cross the Venezuela-Colombia border, ordered closed by President <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a>.</p>
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<td class="caption">Demonstrators clash with Venezuela's security forces in Urena [Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Security forces block Colombian border</h3>
<p>Before daybreak, a large contigent of national guards in riot gear forced people to move away from the road to the Simon Bolivar bridge connecting <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a> and <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/colombia.html">Colombia</a>.</p>
<p>The Venezuelan government had said that it was closing three of its bridges on the border.</p>
<p>Street vendors and people with suitcases walked along the street in the dark closely followed by dozens of soldiers.</p>
<p>"What's happening here is that the Armed Forces, by order of Padrino Lopez,Venezuelan Defence Minister, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, have blocked the border, and do not let anyone pass," explained Ronaldo Suarez, a street vendor selling coffee and cigarettes by the border.</p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuela's opposition supporters demand to cross the border line between Colombia and Venezuela at Simon Bolivar bridge [Edgard Garrido/Reuters]</td>
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<h2>Friday, February 22</h2>
<h3>Venezuela, US discussing status of US diplomats: minister</h3>
<p>Venezuela and the United States are still in discussions about the status of US diplomats in Caracas ahead of next week's deadline imposed by President Nicolas Maduro for them to leave, Venezuela's foreign minister said on Friday.</p>
<p>In a press briefing at the United Nations, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said Venezuelan officials would meet with the U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, to discuss the issue.</p>
<h3>Venezuela opposition leader Guaido arrives at Colombia aid concert</h3>
<p>Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido arrived arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque on Friday at a concert in Colombia that aims to raise $100 million for humanitarian aid for his country.</p>
<h3>UN chief appeals to Venezuela to avoid violence</h3>
<p>United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly appeals" for violence to be avoided in Venezuela, a UN spokesman said on Friday after the first bloodshed linked to efforts to bring aid into the country against the orders of embattled President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>"Any loss of life is regrettable," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. "Looking ahead for tomorrow the secretary-general strongly appeals for violence to be avoided," he added.</p>
<p>Opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to bring in foreign aid from neighboring countries on Saturday and called on security forces to disobey Maduro and let supplies into the country suffering food and medicine shortages.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/rival-concerts-backdrop-venezuela-power-struggle-190222142807321.html">Rival concerts become backdrop for Venezuela power struggle</a></h3>
<p>Dueling concerts will be the backdrop of the showdown between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido on Friday as the opposition prepares to bring aid across the Venezuela-Colombia border - a move Maduro has vowed to block.<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/rival-concerts-backdrop-venezuela-power-struggle-190222142807321.html"></a></p>
<p>Billionaire Richard Branson will host a "Venezuelan Aid Live" concert on the Tienditas International bridge, which connects Venezuela and Colombia, while Maudro's government plans to hold a three-day festival on the other side of the border.</p>
<p>Read <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/rival-concerts-backdrop-venezuela-power-struggle-190222142807321.html">more</a>. </p>
<h3>Brazil sends plane with aid to Venezuelan border</h3>
<p>The Brazilian government is sending a plane load of supplies and humanitarian aid to its northern border with Venezuela on Friday.</p>
<p>Although Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro officially closed the border between the two countries Thursday, the Brazilian air force plane loaded with food and medicine took off destined for Boa Vista, the main city in the northern state of Roraima.</p>
<p>Authorities will then transport the goods by road three hours north to Pacaraima, the city that borders Venezuela.</p>
<h3>Maduro 'constantly' talks with Putin</h3>
<p>Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said at a meeting in the upper chamber of the Russian parliament on Friday that President Nicolas Maduro is "constantly in touch" with President Vladimir Putin on the phone.</p>
<p>He thanked Russia for a recent shipment of medicine but reiterated the government stance that there is no humanitarian crisis in the South American country.</p>
<h3>Venezuelan troops kill one in first bloodshed over aid</h3>
<p>Venezuelan troops killed at least one person and wounded 12 others on Friday near the Brazilian border, witnesses said, the first bloodshed linked to opposition efforts to bring aid into the South American country against the wishes of embattled President Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>Friday's violence broke out as indigenous leaders in southern Venezuela said they had attempted to stop a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil, believing the soldiers were attempting to block the entrance of foreign aid as per Maduro's order.</p>
<p>The convoy entered the indigenous village of Kumarakapay anyway, opening fire to clear the way and killing a woman, Zoraida Rodriguez, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado.</p>
<p>"The result of this crime: 12 injured and one dead," opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared interim presidency, <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1098969880278323201" target="_blank">said on Twitter</a>. "You must decide which side you are on in this definitive hour. To all the military: between today and tomorrow, you will define how you want to be remembered."</p>
<h2>Thursday, February 21</h2>
<h3>Volunteers vow to move aid into Venezuela </h3>
<p>Representatives of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido held a news conference in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Thursday, vowing to transport humanitarian aid into Venezuela.</p>
<p>Tons of aid is currently stored in Cucuta, awaiting to enter into the other side of the border in Venezuela. <br> Venezuelan nurses, doctors, engineers and homemakers are volunteering by the thousands to distribute the food and medicine in the face of a government ban.</p>
<p>The citizen brigade is one of the most ambitious undertakings Venezuela's opposition has attempted.</p>
<p>"I am inviting you to turn the 29 municipalities of Tachira state into the border to all the bridges, to all the roads dressed in white," Gaby Arellano, Venezuelan opposition member told journalists during the news conference in Cucuta.</p>
<h3>Russian, Venezuelan diplomats meet in Moscow</h3>
<p>A Russian deputy foreign minister has met with his Venezuelan counterpart as tensions rise in the South American country.</p>
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<p>Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Venezuela's Ivan Gil met in Moscow in a session that the Russian Foreign Ministry said was held in a constructive atmosphere.</p>
<p>"The Russian side expressed solidarity with the friendly people of Venezuela, firm support for the policy of its government aimed at preventing destabilisation in the country and supported the idea of holding a national dialogue to overcome the differences in Venezuelan society," the ministry said in a statement.</p>
<h3>Maduro closes border with Brazil </h3>
<p>Venezuelan President <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a> said the government was considering closing the border with Colombia and would close the border with Brazil ahead of opposition plans to bring in humanitarian aid despite his objection.</p>
<p>In televised comments, Maduro said the stockpiling of aid for <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a> in the Colombian border town of Cucuta was a "provocation". He argues the opposition's plans are a cheap show to undermine his government.</p>
<p>Maduro said the government would close the border with Brazil on Thursday night after the Brazilian government pledged to also send aid in. </p>
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<p>Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said the government was considering closing the border with Colombia [Marcelo Garcia /AFP]</p>
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<h3>Pence will meet with Lima group </h3>
<p>US Vice President <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/mike-pence.html">Mike Pence</a> will fly to Bogota, <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/colombia.html">Colombia</a> on Monday to discuss the Venezuela crisis with leaders of the regional Lima Group of nations, his office said on Thursday.</p>
<p>The United States and other members of the group have thrown their support behind opposition leader Juan Guaido and are trying to pressure President <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/nicolas-maduro.html">Nicolas Maduro</a> to step aside to allow for new elections and the entry of aid.</p>
<p>"The struggle in <a class="InternalLink" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/venezuela.html">Venezuela</a> is between dictatorship and democracy, and freedom has the momentum. Juan Guaido is the only legitimate leader of Venezuela, and it's time for Nicolas Maduro to go," Alyssa Farah, a spokeswoman for Pence, said in a statement</p>
<h3>Opposition leaders travel to Venezuela's border </h3>
<p>A caravan of opposition leaders is heading toward Venezuela's border with Colombia ahead of a Saturday showdown over humanitarian aid.</p>
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<p>Lawmakers departed in three white buses from Caracas early Thursday.</p>
<p>The opposition is vowing on Saturday to deliver large amounts of US-supplied aid warehoused in the Colombian border city of Cucuta. </p>
<h3>Air France halts Caracas flights </h3>
<p>Air France said it is suspending some flights to Caracas until Monday as the political crisis deepens with a standoff over foreign aid. <br><br> An airline spokeswoman told AFP news agency late Wednesday that "certain flights had been halted over security concerns," including direct flights between Paris and Caracas. <br><br> Air France's website, however, was on Thursday still offering flights to Caracas via Panama.</p>
<h2>Wednesday, February 20</h2>
<h3>Guaido to head to Colombia border in a caravan: spokesman</h3>
<p>Guaido plans to head to the border with Colombia on Thursday to lead the attempt to bring in US aid in defiance of Maduro's government. <br><br> The opposition leader has set Saturday as the deadline for bringing in the aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Colombia. <br><br> His press office said he will depart for the border in a caravan with fellow members of the opposition-controlled National Assembly.</p>
<p>Although it was unclear what Guaido intends to do, he has enlisted hundreds of thousands of volunteers in recent days to help bring in and distribute the aid, forcing a showdown with Maduro.</p>
<h3>Venezuela closes maritime border with Dutch islands </h3>
<p>Venezuela's borders with Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire will remain closed for an indefinite period, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, accompanied by Chancellor Jorge Arreaza, announced on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Rodriguez also informed that on instructions from President Nicolas Maduro diplomatic relations with the Government of the Netherlands Antilles will be reviewed.</p>
<p>The government made the decision after Curacao's government said the island would help store aid destined for Venezuela.</p>
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<span>Venezuela's borders with Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire will remain closed, </span>Delcy Rodriguez said (File:Ricardo Mazalan/AP)</td>
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<h3>Venezuelans brace for tense aid delivery bid</h3>
<p>Venezuelans are bracing nervously for possible weekend confrontations as Guaido vows to bring US aid into the country in defiance of Maduro's government.</p>
<p>In the latest maneuver of his standoff with the president, Guaido rallied bus drivers who he said will head to the borders to collect aid for Venezuelans suffering shortages.</p>
<p>Private bus driver Jose Figueroa, 60, said he planned to leave Caracas in the coming days in a convoy of some 30 vehicles.</p>
<p>"The situation is extremely tense," he said, as drivers parked their buses and pick-up trucks at a rally in central Caracas.</p>
<p>"But a bullet will kill you more quickly than hunger."</p>
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<td class="caption">Opposition leader Juan Guaido attends a protest of the public transport sector against the government [Manaure Quinter/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Venezuela bans boats from leaving ports</h3>
<p>The Venezuelan military said it was banning vessels from sailing out of the country's ports until Sunday, coinciding with an opposition bid to import shipments of US aid.</p>
<p>"Departures of boats from all ports are to be suspended" for security reasons, said a military decree seen by AFP news agency.</p>
<h3>Colombia prepares for concert </h3>
<p>The Colombian border city of Cucuta is preparing for a live concert over the weekend that aims to shed light on the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Venezuela.</p>
<p>Cucuta's mayor Cesar Rojas Ayala said Cucuta is preparing with strong police presence but does not expect a military confrontation.</p>
<p>"We have available 1,500 men throughout all the corridors where the movement of vehicle of the personalities will be," Ayala said.</p>
<h3>Switzerland says its president did not speak to Guaido</h3>
<p>Swiss President Ueli Maurer did not speak to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido about freezing Swiss bank accounts belonging to the South American nation, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>"This information is not correct. There was no telephone contact between Guaido and President Maurer," the spokesman said by email in response to an enquiry.</p>
<p>He was not immediately available to elaborate.</p>
<h3>Guaido: We will go to the barracks</h3>
<p>Opposition leader Juan Guaido informed citizens that the mobilisation summoned for this Saturday will go to the military barracks to demand that humanitarian aid is allowed to enter the country.</p>
<p>Guaido also sent a message to the military citizens and stressed that the entry of humanitarian aid is to serve citizens and "save lives."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Y anuncio al país: este <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/23F?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#23F</a> nos movilizaremos a todos los cuarteles de Venezuela a exigir el ingreso de la ayuda humanitaria. <br><br> Señores de la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FANB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FANB</a>, tienen 3 días para acatar a la orden del Presidente (E) y ponerse del lado de la constitución. Esta ayuda es para salvar vidas.</p>
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1098249084673187840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Russia: Diplomacy ignored by US in Venezuela</h3>
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of "direct intervention" in Venezuela.</p>
<p>He alleged the opposition, led by Juan Guaido, was guilty of "actively supporting and instigating this external interference".</p>
<p>"This is undoubtedly a direct violation of the UN charter and a direct intervention into the domestic affairs of an independent country," said Lavrov of American actions.</p>
<p>He added the US was ignoring diplomacy.</p>
<p>Lavrov's comments came as Russian news agencies reported a shipment of Russian medicine and medical equipment arrived in Venezuela.</p>
<h3>Security forces punish anti-Maduro protesters: Amnesty</h3>
<p>Venezuelan security forces have executed several people and arbitrarily detained hundreds of others in a campaign to punish people who protested President Nicolas Maduro, human rights group Amnesty International said.</p>
<p>In a report titled Hunger, punishment and fear, the formula for repression in Venezuela, Amnesty said dozens died during five days of protests from January 21 to January 25, almost all from gunshot wounds, and 900 people were arrested.</p>
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<td class="caption">A supporter of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido holds a banner reading 'freedom' during a protest on January 30 [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Guaido trying to freeze accounts in Switzerland</h3>
<p>Opposition leader Juan Guaido said he spoke to the president of Switzerland to try to freeze banks accounts belonging to the tumultuous South American nation after "irregular movements" were discovered.</p>
<p>"We are talking to the Swiss president," Guaido said in an interview with Mexican network Televisa.</p>
<p>Guaido said the Venezuelan government held bank accounts in Switzerland and irregular efforts to migrate part of those accounts to "another site" had been detected.</p>
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<td class="caption">Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido is t<span>rying to freeze banks accounts in Switzerland [</span>RManaure Quintero/Reuters]</td>
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<h3>Maritime border with Dutch Antilles reopened </h3>
<p>Venezuelan authorities reopened the country's maritime border with the Dutch Antilles islands after closing it on Tuesday, a regional military commander told Reuters news agency.</p>
<p>General Miguel Morales Miranda, second-in-command for the state of Falcon, did not give a reason for the change, which now allows boats and aircraft to travel between Venezuela and the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/venezuela-crisis-previous-updates-190221200938502.html">For all previous updates, click here. </a></em></p>
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SOURCE:
<span>Al Jazeera and news agencies</span></p>
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<hr><a name="article-2"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/breaks-heart-chief-decries-raid-drc-ebola-centre-190309193641595.html" target="new-2"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(1)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(3)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="2"><h1>'It breaks my heart': WHO chief decries raid on DRC Ebola centre</h1><div class="main-article-body">
<figure class="main-article-mediaCaption"><div class="main-article-media"><img class="img-responsive main-article-media-img" src="https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2019/3/9/33a2d8eb247b48f98a80c0e5e3d91a49_18.jpg" alt="The attack on the medical facility was successfully repelled by security forces, Butembo's mayor said [John Wessels/AFP]" title="'It breaks my heart': WHO chief decries raid on DRC Ebola centre"></div>
<figcaption class="main-article-caption">The attack on the medical facility was successfully repelled by security forces, Butembo's mayor said [John Wessels/AFP]</figcaption></figure><div id="inpage-more-on-block" class="inpage-auto-embed hidden-xs"></div>
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<p class="speakable">The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has denounced an attack on an <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/subjects/ebola.html">Ebola</a> treatment centre in the restive east of the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/democratic-republic-congo.html">Democratic Republic of Congo</a> (DRC) during a visit to the facility, just hours after a raid which killed a policeman and wounded a health worker.</p>
<p class="speakable"><span>During a tour <span>on Saturday </span>of the centre,<span> located at Butembo in North Kivu province,<span> WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said</span></span></span> violence in the region was undermining the early progress made by authorities in fighting the ongoing outbreak of the lethal disease.</p>
<p class="speakable"><span>"Attacks on the </span>Ebola<span> treatment centre are not by the community, these are attacks on the community," <span>Tedros</span><span> said in a tweet.</span> </span></p>
<p><span>"We have no choice except to continue serving the people here, who are among the most vulnerable in the world," he added.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"It breaks my heart to think of the life we lost in this attack on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ebola?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ebola</a> treatment centre, as we continue to mourn those who have died in previous attacks, while defending the right to health"- <a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> from Butembo, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DRC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DRC</a> <a href="https://t.co/XAMJ8Wr7B1">pic.twitter.com/XAMJ8Wr7B1</a></p>
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1104390506774183936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<p>The Butembo facility reopened last week after an attack by gunmen the previous Wednesday forced its closure.</p>
<p><span>Butembo mayor Sylvain Kanyamanda told the AFP news agency the raid on Saturday had started with shooting at about six in the morning (04:00GMT) and resumed 30 minutes later "with resistance from the army and the police". </span>The health worker who was shot was being treated in hospital.</p>
<p>"The army and the police caught one of the attackers," <span>Kanyamanda</span> said, saying he was a member of the Mai-Mai rebel group.</p>
<p>This was the third attack on the centre, the mayor added, branding the attackers as "terrorists" who wanted to "kill the sick".</p>
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<h2>'Toxic' atmosphere</h2>
<p>Ebola, a deadly viral disease, broke out in North Kivu in August last year, before spreading to neighbouring Ituri province. Both provinces are wracked by intercommunal violence and unrest.</p>
<p>According to the latest ministry figures, the DRC's current and worst Ebola outbreak has killed close to 600 people. </p>
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<p>Efforts to contain the epidemic, the 10th documented in the country, have been hampered by poor security in the highly unstable region, where numerous militia groups are active.</p>
<p>Health centres have repeatedly come under attack in the seven months since the breakout begun.</p>
<p>On Thursday, a leading medical charity <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/toxic-atmosphere-undermining-drc-ebola-outbreak-response-msf-190307142358603.html">warned that efforts to tackle the outbreak were falling short</a>, accusing the DRC's authorities of failing to contain it because of an overly militarised response that was alienating patients and their families and contributing to the creation of a "toxic" atmosphere.</p>
<p>Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, highlighted that more than 40 percent of deaths were occurring in communities rather than in Ebola treatment centres.</p>
<p><span>The charity alleged that security forces had used "coercion" while overseeing safe burials, tracking contacts and assisting with the admission of patients to treatment centres. </span></p>
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<p>But Jessica Ilunga, a spokeswoman for the DRC's health ministry, rejected MSF's claims as a "gross exaggeration of the situation" and said there was a "misunderstanding" about the security forces' role in dealing with the outbreak.</p>
<p><span>"The police and the army are not involved in Ebola-response activities, and their role has never been to enforce sanitary measures," Ilunga said.</span></p>
<p><span>"Contrary to international agents, local health workers don't have the privilege of being evacuated when security conditions worsen. As such, it is necessary to reinforce the security to allow for smooth response operations," she added.</span></p>
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SOURCE:
<span>Al Jazeera and news agencies</span></p>
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<hr><a name="article-3"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2019/03/100-injured-japan-ferry-collision-190309182136778.html" target="new-3"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(2)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(4)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="3"><h1>Nearly 100 injured in Japan ferry collision</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p class="speakable">At least 87 passengers in a high-speed ferry have been injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal off a Japanese island, according to coastguard officers and local media reports.<br><br> Thirteen people suffered serious injuries in the accident on Saturday, which occurred as the vessel was heading to Sado island, <span>public broadcaster NHK quoted </span>the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/japan.html">Japan</a> coastguard as saying. <br><br> It is likely the ferry hit a whale, as both humpbacks and minkes are often found in the area, NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as saying. <br><br> "It was a huge impact," a passenger told the broadcaster. "One person was bleeding." </p>
<p class="speakable">There was damage to the back of the vessel, local media said. A 15cm crack was found at the ferry's stern.</p>
<p class="speakable">However, the ferry - with 121 passengers and four crew on board - reached its destination on the island, located off the west coast of Japan's main island of Honshu without outside help, local media said.</p>
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<hr><a name="article-4"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2019/03/stop-misinformation-online-190309181352918.html" target="new-4"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(3)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(5)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="4"><h1>Is enough being done to stop misinformation online?</h1><h4 class="heading-section" style="padding-bottom:0px"><a class="showStrandName" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/">People & Power</a></h4>
<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2019/02/forgotten-heroes-empire-190212202052563.html" onclick="sendGAEvent('Bottom Content','click','Program Highlights');" class="play"><img class="lazy" data-src="/mritems/imagecache/mbdresplarge/mritems/Images/2019/2/13/0b4f79fce1a7429aa9fa9a4a32c1c76f_18.jpg" alt="The Forgotten Heroes of Empire" title="The Forgotten Heroes of Empire" src="https://www.aljazeera.com/img/nov-2016/novresptopfeature.jpg"></a><h4><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2019/02/forgotten-heroes-empire-190212202052563.html" style="text-transform: none;" onclick="sendGAEvent('Bottom Content','click','Program Highlights');">The Forgotten Heroes of Empire</a></h4>
<p>People & Power investigates the UK's scandalous neglect of its colonial-era African soldiers.</p>
<p class="meta"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/subjects/world-war.html">World War</a>, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/united-kingdom.html">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/subjects/history.html">History</a></p></div><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#article-top"><i class="fa fa-chevron-up fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2019/03/stop-misinformation-online-190309181352918.html" target="new-4"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(3)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(5)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div></div><!-- ==================== article 5============== --><div class="article" id="article-5" style="display: none;">
<hr><a name="article-5"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2019/03/15-men-killed-nightclub-shooting-central-mexico-190309160116733.html" target="new-5"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(4)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(6)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="5"><h1>At least 15 killed at nightclub shooting in central Mexico</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p class="speakable">At least 15 people have been killed in a shooting at a nightclub in Mexico's violence-wracked Guanajuato state, according to prosecutors.</p>
<p class="speakable">Local media reported that another seven people were injured before sunrise on Saturday when a group of armed men pulled up in three vans at the La Playa Men's Club in the city of Salamanca, burst into the premises, and opened fire.</p>
<p class="speakable">A video taken after the shooting from the street near the bar showed a line of police vehicles and a woman wailing uncontrollably in the background as an ambulance drove into the area.</p>
<p>Authorities in central Mexico's Guanajuato state have launched an operation against criminal gangs involved in fuel theft.</p>
<p>Salamanca, site of the main pipeline belonging to state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), is where fuel thieves have cost the firm around $3bn in recent years.</p>
<p>More than a decade after the introduction of a militarised effort against drug cartels that has led to some of Mexico's bloodiest years on record, the latest effort will test the new government's ability to curtail the reach of organised crime.</p>
<p>In late January, a fake bomb was found in a car parked close to the refinery.<br> <br>Nearby, signs were found threatening Mexico President <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador.html">Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a> and demanding that he withdraw soldiers fighting against fuel theft gangs from the area.</p>
<p><span>Obrador took office on December 1, 2018, vowing to step up the fight against crime.</span><br> <br>Salamanca is less than 100km from Santa Rosa de Lima, where a few days ago authorities conducted an operation against Juan Antonio Yepez, the alleged leader of a fuel-stealing cartel.</p>
<p>Guanajuato state suffered a doubling of murders last year, making it one of Mexico's most violent regions, official data shows.</p>
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<hr><a name="article-6"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/international-womens-day-march-highlights-issues-argentina-190309174735852.html" target="new-6"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(5)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(7)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="6"><h1>International Women's Day march highlights issues in Argentina</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p>Marches and rallies have been held across the world to mark International Women's Day, with many pushing for action on equality.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/argentina.html">Argentina</a>, women voiced their concerns ahead of elections later this year.</p>
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<p>Al Jazeera's Daniel Schweimler reports from Buenos Aires.</p>
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<hr><a name="article-7"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/spacex-dragon-capsule-ends-test-flight-ocean-splashdown-190308142103771.html" target="new-7"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(6)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(8)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="7"><h1>SpaceX Dragon capsule ends test flight with ocean splashdown</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p class="speakable">An unmanned SpaceX capsule has successfully splashed down into the Atlantic Ocean after a short-term stay on the International Space Station (ISS).</p>
<p class="speakable">The return of the Crew Dragon spacecraft to Earth on Friday morning capped the first orbital test mission in US space agency <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/organisations/nasa.html">NASA</a>'s long-delayed quest to resume human space flight from US soil later this year.</p>
<p class="speakable">"Good splashdown of Dragon confirmed!" the SpaceX account tweeted along with an image of the capsule showing its four main white and orange parachutes deployed as two boats sped towards it.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Successful splashdown of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrewDragon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrewDragon</a> right on time at 8:45 a.m. ET. <a href="https://t.co/0qHhHzD4Js">pic.twitter.com/0qHhHzD4Js</a></p>
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) <a href="https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1104015953531203584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>After a five-day mission on the orbital outpost, Crew Dragon autonomously detached about 2:30am EST (07:30 GMT) on Friday and sped back to Earth reaching hypersonic speeds before an 8:45am EST (13:45 GMT) splash-down in the Atlantic, about 320km off the Florida coast.</p>
<p>A SpaceX rocket launched the 16-foot-tall capsule from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday.</p>
<p>The first-of-its-kind mission, in advance of SpaceX's crewed test flight slated for June, brought some 180kg of test equipment to the space station, including a dummy named Ripley, outfitted with sensors around its head, neck and spine to monitor how a flight would feel for a human.</p>
<p>The space station's three-member crew greeted the capsule last Sunday, with US astronaut Anne McClain and Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques entering Crew Dragon's cabin to carry out air-quality tests and inspections.</p>
<p>The crewless mission, called Demo-1, was SpaceX's chance to show it can build a spaceship that can carry people. <br><br>The company, founded by celebrity entrepreneur Elon Musk, has so far shuttled only cargo to the ISS.</p>
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<hr><a name="article-8"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/women-football-team-players-sue-gender-discrimination-190308171803481.html" target="new-8"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(7)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(9)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="8"><h1>US women's football team players sue over gender discrimination</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p class="speakable">All players for the US women's national football team have filed a federal <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/subjects/gender.html">gender</a> discrimination lawsuit seeking pay equal to that of their male counterparts.</p>
<p class="speakable">The action comes just three months before the team goes off to defend its title at the Women's World Cup.</p>
<p class="speakable">The class-action lawsuit was filed on Friday in federal court in Los Angeles under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/issues/civil-rights.html">Civil Rights</a> Act. It alleges gender-based discrimination by the US Soccer Federation (USSF).</p>
<p>The players say they have been subject to ongoing "institutionalised gender discrimination", including unequal pay, training, travel and playing conditions, despite having the same job responsibilities as players on the men's national team. </p>
<p>The 28 members of the current national team player pool joined in the lawsuit.</p>
<p>The US Women's National Team Players Association (USWNTPA) was not a party to the lawsuit, but in a statement said it "supports the plaintiffs' goal of eliminating gender-based discrimination by USSF". </p>
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<p>The US Soccer Federation didn't have an immediate comment for the Associated Press news agency.</p>
<p>The players are seeking equal pay and treatment, in addition to damages including back pay. The complaint was filed on International Women's Day.</p>
<h2>'We deserved to be paid equally'</h2>
<p>In a prepared statement, football player Alex Morgan said players needed to fight for gender equality.</p>
<p>"Each of us is extremely proud to wear the United States jersey, and we also take seriously the responsibility that comes with that," Morgan said in the statement. </p>
<p>"We believe that fighting for gender equality in sports is a part of that responsibility. As players, we deserved to be paid equally for our work, regardless of our gender." </p>
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<p>US co-captain Carli Lloyd said; "In light of our team's unparalleled success on the field, it's a shame that we still are fighting for treatment that reflects our achievements and contributions to the sport."</p>
<p>When the women's team clinched their most recent World Cup title in 2015, it was the most watched football game in American TV history with an audience of approximately 23 million viewers.</p>
<h2>Pushing for equal pay</h2>
<p>This is not the first time the players have sought equitable compensation and conditions.</p>
<p>A group of players filed a complaint in 2016 with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that alleged wage discrimination by the federation. </p>
<p>The players maintained that the men's team <span>players </span>earned far more than they did, in many cases despite comparable work.</p>
<p>The lawsuit effectively ends that EEOC complaint, brought by Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, Carli Lloyd and former goalkeeper Hope Solo.</p>
<p>The team took the fight into contract negotiations and struck a collective bargaining agreement in 2017 that runs through 2021.</p>
<p>The players received raises in base pay and bonuses as well as better provisions for travel and accommodations, including increased per diems. It also gave the players some control of certain licensing and marketing rights. </p>
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<p>"This lawsuit is an effort by the plaintiffs to address those serious issues through the exercise of their individual rights. For its part, the USWNTPA will continue to seek improvements in pay and working conditions through the labour-management and collective bargaining processes," the players' union said.</p>
<p>The USSF has in the past maintained that much of the pay disparity between the men's and women's teams resulted from separate labour agreements.</p>
<p>In 2017, the US women's national hockey team threatened to boycott that year's world championship but returned to the ice after settling a dispute with USA Hockey over wages and better benefits in line with their male counterparts.</p>
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<hr><a name="article-9"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/algeria-orders-early-university-holiday-students-lead-protests-190309142847713.html" target="new-9"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(8)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(10)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="9"><h1>Algeria shuts universities as rallies pile pressure on Bouteflika</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<figcaption>The ministry's decision came a day after tens of thousands of demonstrators packed central Algiers to challenge Bouteflika's rule [Ramzi Boudina/Reuters]</figcaption></figure><div id="inpage-more-on-block" class="inpage-auto-embed hidden-xs"></div>
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<p class="speakable">Universities across <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/algeria.html">Algeria</a> will close two weeks before a scheduled holiday, authorities have announced, in an apparent attempt to defuse student-led protests against ailing President <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/abdelaziz-bouteflika-profile-algeria-ailing-leader-190304193802355.html">Abdelaziz Bouteflika</a>, who is seeking a fifth term in office.</p>
<p class="speakable">The Ministry of Higher Education's decision on Saturday came a day after tens of thousands of demonstrators packed the centre of Algiers to challenge the ailing leader's 20-year rule in the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/algerians-mobilise-mass-anti-bouteflika-protests-190308160701766.html">biggest rallies the capital has seen in decades</a>.</p>
<p class="speakable">Without giving a reason for the move, the ministry said in a decree that the spring break would be brought forward by 10 days - now to run from Sunday to April 4.</p>
<p>Students have been at the heart of the mass protests - which began on February 22 - to denounce the <span>82-year-old Bouteflika's plans to extend his rule in an April 18 election.</span></p>
<p>Teachers and students at several universities have gone on strike, while others had vowed to begin striking on Sunday.</p>
<p>While Friday's rallies in Algiers and elsewhere were mostly calm, police reportedly used tear gas in several areas of the capital, including to block the road to the presidential palace.</p>
<p>State media also said security forces had detained 195 protesters, citing offences including looting as grounds for the arrests.</p>
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<h2>'This time it's different'</h2>
<p>Bouteflika has been in Geneva, Switzerland, for the past two weeks for what his office has termed "routine medical tests".</p>
<p>The president, who is confined to a wheelchair, has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, prompting critics to question whether he is being used as a puppet candidate by a faction of civilian and military figures.</p>
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<div class="meta"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XARPiYIPmUk" target="_blank">Algeria protests grow as Bouteflika adamant on fifth term (2:08)</a></div>
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<p>On Thursday, he issued his first warning to protesters, saying their movement - now entering its third week - could create chaos in the oil- and natural gas-producing North African country.</p>
<p>Bouteflika has offered to limit his term after the election and has vowed to change the "system" that runs the country. The promises, however, have <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/bouteflika-offer-fails-appease-algeria-protesters-190304172453716.html">failed to quell public anger</a>, galvanising <span>discontent among different sectors, particularly students and other young people.</span></p>
<p>Some long-time allies of Bouteflika, including members of the ruling FLN party, have expressed support for the protesters, revealing cracks within a ruling elite long seen as invincible.</p>
<p>"This time it's quite different. What we see now is a momentum that is building up across Algeria," <span>Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, who has covered the region extensively, said of the ongoing demonstrations.</span></p>
<p>"Many people believe that if this momentum continues for the next two weeks, it could be a game-changer," Ahelbarra added.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, Ahelbarra said a key date for the country was going to be March 13, when Algeria's constitutional committee is due to determine the legitimacy of the presented candidacies for next month's elections.</p>
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<hr><a name="article-10"><div id="nav-up" style="display:inline;"><a href="#top"><i class="fa fa-home fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-source" style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/190309143611139.html" target="new-10"><i class="fa fa-link fa-2x"></i></a></div> <div id="nav-prev" onclick="onArticle(9)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i></div> <div id="nav-next" onclick="onArticle(11)" style="display:inline;"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i></div><div class="extract-content" id="10"><h1>Malaysian jailed for more than 10 years for insulting Islam</h1><div class="main-article-body">
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<p class="speakable">A Malaysian has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail and three others have been charged over insults against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on social media. </p>
<p class="speakable">The sentence of 10 years and 10 months is believed to be the harshest such penalty on record in the Muslim-majority country.</p>
<p class="speakable">Inspector General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in a statement on Saturday that the person, identified only as Facebook user "Ayea Yea", had pleaded guilty to 10 charges of anti-religious activity and misusing communication networks.</p>
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<p>The statement did not specify the number of charges for each offence but said they would be served consecutively.</p>
<p>Under Malaysian law, those found guilty of anti-religious activity can be punished with a jail term of two to five years. The misuse of communication networks carries a maximum one year in jail or a fine of up to 50,000 ringgit ($12,200), or both.</p>
<p>According to Andrew Khoo, co-chairperson of the Human Rights Committee of Malaysia, this is an "unprecedented" situation.</p>
<p>"For someone to face five separate charges, and for the sentences to be served consecutively - this is excessive," Khoo told Al Jazeera.</p>
<p>"And according to press reports, the accused was unrepresented. That in itself is a travesty of justice," he added.</p>
<h2>'Not to abuse social media' </h2>
<p>Another social media user had also pleaded guilty and a sentencing hearing will be held on Monday. Two others had pleaded not guilty and were being held without bail.</p>
<p>All four were charged under laws against causing racial disharmony, incitement, and misusing communications networks.</p>
<p>"The police advise the public not to abuse social media or communication networks by uploading or sharing any form of provocation that can affect religious or racial sensitivities, causing racial tensions within this country's diverse community," Mohamad said.</p>
<p>Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the <span>minister in charge of religious affairs,</span> said on Thursday that the Islamic Affairs Department had set up a unit to monitor writings and communications insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.</p>
<p>He said the ministry would not compromise on any acts insulting the religion and called for punishment against those found guilty.</p>
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<p class="article-vid-content">Should there be limits on social media?</p>
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<span>Al Jazeera and news agencies</span></p>
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