Venezuelan air force General Francisco Yanez is the first high ranking military officer to defect from Maduro's government to opposition leader Juan Guaido's camp
A Venezuelan air force general defected from the administration of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday and called on his compatriots to participate in protests against the socialist leader's rule.
Gen. Francisco Yanez is the first high ranking officer to leave Maduro's government since January 23, when National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared himself the country's legitimate leader.
'The transition to democracy is imminent,' Yanez said in a video announcement.
He described Maduro as a dictator and referred to Guaido as his president, but refused to say whether he is still in Venezuela or has left the country.
In a brief phone conversation with The Associated Press the officer confirmed, from a Colombian number, the veracity of his declaration.
Yanez said he would not give further statements until given authorization by 'the commander-in-chief of the legal armed force which is President Juan Guaido.'
In his video, Yanez claimed that '90 percent' of the country's armed forces are against Maduro.
But it is still unclear how much support there is for Guaido within Venezuela's military, as the Venezuelan air force tweeted a photo of Yanez calling him a traitor.
President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro (right) walking with President of Bolivia Evo Morales (left) prior to their meeting in Maiquetia, Venezuela, February 1
The Venezuela's air defense twitter account responded to Yanez's defection with a photo of him calling him a traitor
Opposition leader Juan Guaido (center) arrives at a demonstration to call for early democratic elections, in Caracas on February 2
Shortly after protests broke out against Maduro last week, Venezuela's most important regional military commanders and its defense minister issued a statement in support of Maduro, describing Guaido as a coup monger backed by the United States.
The military controls some of the country's key assets including the state run oil company, and its top brass has helped Maduro to survive previous rounds of mass protests in 2014 and 2017 by jailing activists and repressing protesters.
This month's protests, however, have received overwhelming support from abroad, with the U.S., Canada and many others already recognizing Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
Guaido argues that Maduro's re-election last year was rife with fraud, and he has invoked two articles of Venezuela's constitution which he argues give him the right to assume presidential powers.
Opposition supporters gather in Caracas, Venezuela, on February 2, as opposition leader calls on more demonstrations to put pressure on Maduro to resign
Opposition supporters take part in a rally against President Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela February 2
An anti-government protester wears signs asking for humanitarian aid and a message on his chest that reads in Spanish: 'Venezuelans die for lack of medicines. Maduro is an assassin'
On Saturday morning, streams of marchers walked from middle-class and poor neighborhoods to gather at points across the capital of Caracas for a demonstration to demand Maduro's resignation and a transitional government that will hold new elections in the South American country.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido called for demonstrations today to increase pressure on Maduro to resign.
Xiomara Espinoza, 59, said she felt a change of energy in the crowd, whose hopes for a political transition in Venezuela have previously been dashed.
'We are around the corner from freedom,' Espinoza said, banging on a pot and wearing a Venezuelan flag.
Anti-government protesters gather for the start of a nationwide demonstration demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro
Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro also demonstrating in Caracas, Venezuela. Pro government supporters describe Guaido as a coup monger backed by the United States
An anti-government protester holds a poster with a message that reads in Spanish: 'Freedom for Venezuela'
Espinoza said 23 of her nieces and nephews have left Venezuela due to the country's spiraling economic crisis, which has caused widespread food shortages and hyperinflation expected to surpass 1 million percent this year.
Maduro has described the protests as part of a U.S.-led coup attempt and called on his supporters to organize their own march on Saturday in defense of his Bolivarian Revolution.
'Our struggle for self-determination has deep roots in the historic independence battles waged by our Liberators. From them comes strength, with which we defend the Sovereignty and the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,' Maduro tweeted.
At noon, thousands of public employees and government supporters began to concentrate on Caracas' downtown Bolivar Avenue.
Some danced to popular songs, while a banner included a large photo of late President Hugo Chavez and read: '20 years of popular victories.'
The socialist government of Maduro called the rally to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chavez's rise to power.
Meanwhile, thousands of anti-government protesters descended on the eastern part of the city.
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Venezuelan air force General Francisco Yanez is the first high ranking military officer to defect from Maduro’s government to opposition leader Juan Guaido’s camp
A Venezuelan air force general defected from the administration of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday and called...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/02/17/9311786-0-image-a-76_1549127300652.jpg
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