Maduro says he arrested a collaborator of Guaidó because he was leading a "terrorist cell"

The government of Nicolás Maduro he claimed on Thursday that Roberto Marrero, the chief of staff of the president in charge of Venezuela, Juan GuaidóHe was arrested because he was leading a "terrorist cell" that was trying to "destabilize" the country. Guaidó tweeted early Thursday that members of the Bolivian intelligence service (SEBIN) had raided the houses of Marrero and MP Sergio Vergara of the popular Voluntad party, and that they "had them kidnapped". The national badembly of the country confirmed the arrest.

The badertions were made by the Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Néstor Reverol, who pointed out that the alleged cell had prepared "selective murders". For its part, Maduro said that this "terrorist cell" was targeting hospitals and several metro stations in Caracas. "They had several targets to attack, several barracks and military units with Colombian and Central American mercenaries

"Several objectives, false-positive type hospitals, metro stations and other objectives that the prosecutor, the public prosecutor, the judiciary and the corresponding organs of justice will certainly contribute to the development of this investigation", said President Chavez. "The Venezuelan and Revolutionary Government of Venezuela will not stall to fight terrorist groups, to lead them to prison." This is not the policy that they do. It's just terrorism"

The arrest of Marrero occurred around 2 am Thursday. According to Vergara's social media, "More than 40 officials of SEBIN" broke into the house at dawn and those of Marrero "with shoulder weapons and twelve trucks". Vergara and Guaidó both accused SEBIN's agents of "laying down" weapons ("two rifles and a grenade") at Marrero's to justify their "kidnapping".

The Venezuelan crisis worsened on January 10 following the decision of Nicolás Maduro to start a second term that neither the opposition nor a large part of the international community recognizes, given that the May 20 presidential elections were a fraud. On January 23, Guaidó proclaimed himself "president in charge", thus gaining recognition from a large part of the international community for managing a peaceful transition leading to new elections.

The United States, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and dozens of other countries support Guaidó, while Maduro still maintains the loyalty of much of the infrastructure and the military forces of the Venezuelan government, as well as the support of other nations, notably Russia Donald Trump's government warned him to pay attention to the safety of Guaidó and his family. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said this month that the United States would consider Maduro and his entourage as "totally responsible for Guaidó's security and well-being," promising a immediate reaction "he was arrested or injured.

S.D.