Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, facing increasing pressure to provide evidence that his election victory was valid, said on Wednesday that opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia should be jailed after deadly protests across the country.
The leader told reporters:
They should be behind bars.
The opposition, which claims its candidate Gonzalez Urrutia was the rightful victor, said 16 people were killed in protests that erupted after Sunday’s elections in the Latin American country.
The White House warned that its and the international community’s patience with Venezuela was “running out” and joined the EU and countries in the region in demanding a detailed analysis of the vote.
However, Maduro said he was “ready to present 100 per cent of the protocols,” speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court of Justice, where he appealed against what he called an “attack on the electoral process.” He also added:
I am willing to be summoned, questioned, investigated in all aspects by the electoral chamber.
On Monday, security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets against Venezuelans after thousands took to the streets shouting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government will fall!”
Machado, who was replaced by Gonzalez Urrutia after he was barred from running, said there had been 177 detentions and 11 “enforced disappearances,” while Attorney General Tarek William Saab reported 749 people arrested during the protests, some of whom could face terrorism charges. The military reported one death and 23 wounded among its personnel.
Protests continue
Thousands of people gathered again on Tuesday for demonstrations in support of the opposition in several cities.
Peru recognised Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela’s legitimate president on Tuesday, prompting Caracas to sever diplomatic relations. Venezuela recalled diplomatic personnel from eight of the most important Latin American countries and asked the envoys of those nations to leave its territory. They include Argentina, whose embassy in Caracas is holding several Machado associates as refugees, creating uncertainty about their fate.
Maduro supporters back the president
Meanwhile, thousands of Maduro supporters took to the streets of Caracas on Wednesday to express their support for the president in response to global criticism. Edwin Blanco, a 30-year-old Maduro supporter, told AFP:
They have said the same thing in previous years, in previous elections they always talk about fraud.
Some demonstrators wore T-shirts reading “I choose Nicolas,” while others waved Venezuelan flags, took selfies and danced to music as they marched through the streets.
Ledys Rodriguez, 65, told AFP she found the actions of the opposition “painful.” She also said:
Who do you think is supporting them? They’re being backed by foreign countries.
