Venezuela’s defence minister says armed forces are “firmly in defence of the national constitution and legitimate authorities”.
Venezuela’s socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello also called on government supporters to amass at the presidential palace to defend President Nicolas Maduro from what he says is a small uprising of traitorous military soldiers backed by the US.
Cabello downplayed the significance of the rebellion, saying Caracas is calm and that the Carlota air base near where the rebellious soldiers are gathered had not been touched.
Venezuelan Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Twitter that Maduro’s government is confronting a small “coup attempt” led by military “traitors”.
Tear gas was fired at a highway overpass near the Caracas air base where Guaido and several heavily armed soldiers with blue bands wrapped around their forearms had been standing guard.
The tear gas appeared to have been fired from inside the Carlota air base.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido announced on Tuesday that he had support from a group of “brave soldiers”.
“Today brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men supporting the Constitution have answered our call,” Guaido said in an early morning video shot next to Carlota air base in Caracas surrounded by several heavily-armed soldiers backed by a few armoured vehicles.
Guaido said soldiers who had taken to the streets were protecting Venezuela’s constitution. He made the comments a day before a planned anti-government rally.
“The moment is now,” he said.
Guaido has taken to the streets with detained activist Leopoldo Lopez and the soldiers.
“This is the moment of all Venezuelans, those in uniform and those who aren’t,” said Lopez in his first public appearance since being detained in 2014 for leading anti-government protests.
“Everyone should come to the streets, in peace.”
Lopez said he has been freed by the military.
As Lopez spoke, there were sporadic efforts with tear gas to break up the protesters who gathered on a highway overpass in wealthier eastern Caracas. It appeared to have been fired from inside the Carlota air base. But more people gathered as they sensed what could be their strongest opportunity yet to overthrow the government.
“It’s now or never,” said one of the young soldiers, his face covered in the blue bandanna preferred by the few dozen soldiers who stood alongside Guaido and Lopez.