Violence erupted in the streets of Caracas on Tuesday as U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido unexpectedly launched what he called the “final phase” of his campaign to drive socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power, urging supporters and members of the military to mount an all-out rebellion and take control of the government.
A chaotic scene unfolded quickly after Mr. Guaido, with clear backing from top Trump administrationofficials and a number of Venezuela’s neighbors, released an early morning video filmed near a Caracas military air base. He was flanked by dozens of armed national guard members who had abandoned Mr. Maduro and added newfound heft to the opposition.
Mr. Guaido and leading Venezuelan opposition activist Leopoldo Lopez, who had been released from house arrest by security forces following Mr. Guaido’s orders, called for an unprecedented popular uprising they dubbed Operation Freedom.
Despite scenes of street riots, tear gas attacks and even the sight of an armored government truck driving into a crowd of rock-throwing demonstrators, it was unclear at day’s end whether the protests in the capital had dented Mr. Maduro’s authority or the critical support of top military and legal officials.
Mr. Maduro did not appear in public. He issued only a Twitter post proclaiming his “nerves of steel,” condemning the opposition and telling supporters, “We will win!”
With more than 50 countries in the Western Hemisphere and Europe saying they recognize Mr. Guaidoas the country’s legitimate “interim president,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all sides in the conflict to exercise “maximum restraint” and try to find a negotiated solution.