
Nestor Reverol: Venezuela interior minister announced the botched mercenary invasion
Venezuela said it foiled a mercenary invasion by “terrorists” who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighbouring Colombia.
According to the country’s interior minister, Nestor Reverol, the mercenaries landed early on Sunday on the coast of La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 km) from the capital Caracas.
“They tried to carry out an invasion by sea, a group of terrorist mercenaries from Colombia, in order to commit terrorist acts in the country, murdering leaders of the revolutionary government,” Reverol said in a telecast.
Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight people were killed and two detained.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said one of the speedboats had sunk, and that military vessels were searching the coast for survivors.
However, opposition leaders dismissed the plot as a staged incident.
President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of attempting to overthrow him with the backing of Washington, which has vowed to force him from office through sanctions that have crippled the OPEC nation’s oil exports.
Critics of the ruling Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the government.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido said the government was seeking to distract from recent violent events including a deadly prison riot on Friday and bloody Caracas gang battle on Saturday night.
The assertions by Maduro’s government of Colombian involvement were “unfounded”, Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It said it was an attempt to distract attention from “the true problems that the Venezuelan people are living.”
Maduro has overseen a six-year economic crisis that has left many citizens unable to obtain basic food and medicine and forced nearly five million people to emigrate.
The United States and dozens of other countries disavowed Maduro after his disputed 2018 election, which they claimed was rigged.
They instead recognize Guaido, who is head of the country’s legislature.
But Maduro retains the backing of the country’s armed forces as well as countries including China and Russia, which have harshly criticised the U.S. sanctions.
Join The Conversation
You May Like
Latest
Lagos, CIG Motors roll-out 1,000 SUVs as taxis for Lagosians
Alleged N40m fraud: ‘Mama Boko Haram’ ordered to testify orally
Suspected fake Chevron staff docked for N4.5m contract scam
Makinde congratulates Bishop Oke, new PFN President
JUST IN: Buhari orders immigration to tighten security around nation’s borders
Buhari congratulates new PFN president, Wale Oke
Lagos Police arrest man for unleashing dogs on policewoman
6 escape death in Osun auto-crash
Kano Hisbah moves against street hawking
Okei-Odumakin mourns Sadiq Daba
Eko Club asks police to vacate premises after court’s order
Biafra group mocks reversal of food blockade
Mahama loses, Ghana Supreme Court upholds re-election of Akufo-Addo
Late actor, Sadiq Daba laid to rest
How I broke into styling and my plans – Dstylistboy
Nura Dahiru Barau Mangal, son of Katsina’s richest man, dies in power bike accident
Seven impersonators of Rivers Task force members arrested
Man bags one-year jail term over FIRS job scam in Sokoto
Lawrence Nazare appointed GMD Continental Reinsurance
Gov. Bala Mohammed will soon join APC – Zulum
Gombe governor approves N755m for gratuities’ arrears