Venezuelan crisis: Guaidó calls for support in the context of deadly border clashes

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has called on other nations to consider "all measures" to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

International pressure is mounting on Maduro after opposition efforts to bring aid to Venezuela turned into deadly violence on Saturday.

At least two people died in clashes between civilians and troops loyal to Maduro, including a 14-year-old boy.

The president has prevented shipments of aid from entering Venezuela.

Mr. Guaidó asked volunteers to collect and transport aid from Brazil and Colombia, but these efforts triggered violent border clashes with soldiers, who opened fire using a mixture of ammunition real and rubber bullets.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the violence of "Maduro hooligans" and said that the United States was ready to "move on". President Donald Trump said Washington had not ruled out an armed response.

Mr. Guaidó, 35, was declared acting president last month and has since been recognized as interim leader by more than 50 countries.

He cited a constitutional provision that gives power to the speaker of the Venezuelan parliament if the president is "absent". Mr. Guaidó claims that alleged irregularities in the 2018 national elections rendered Mr. Maduro's leadership illegitimate.

Guaidó announced his intention to attend a meeting Monday in Bogota, Colombia, with a majority of Latin American countries, despite the ban on travel imposed by Mr. Maduro. US Vice President Mike Pence will represent Washington at the meeting.

Deadly violence at the border

Led by Mr. Guaidó, Venezuela's opposition had the intention of peacefully bringing aid trucks across borders with Brazil and Colombia. Rising inflation has prevented many Venezuelans from obtaining basic necessities such as food, toiletries and medicines.

Mr Guaidó had promised that help would arrive in the country on Saturday. In response, Maduro partially closed the country's borders, citing threats to security and sovereignty.

On Saturday, Venezuelan civilians tried to cross over to the food and medicine stores, but the attempt soon escalated into bloody violence. Protesters clashed with security forces loyal to the president along Venezuela's southern borders with Brazil and west with Colombia.

At least two people, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed, human rights groups said, and many were wounded when Venezuelan troops fired with a mixture of tear gas, rubber balls and real bullets.

It was also reported that aid stocks stored at the border had been burned. Mr. Pompeo called the reports "disgusting".

"Our deepest condolences to the families of those who have died as a result of these criminal acts", he wrote on Twitter. "We join their request for justice."

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Some Venezuelan soldiers tried Saturday to defect at the border with Colombia. Mr. Guaidó went on the Tienditas Bridge, on the Colombian side of the border, and promised amnesty to the defectors when they joined the "right side of history".

According to the Colombian immigration service, at least 60 soldiers defected on Saturday night, but most of the military still seemed loyal to Maduro.

Video footage showed Venezuelan soldiers hitting their armored vehicles on the Colombian border to defect.

Another video posted on social media appeared to show four soldiers publicly denouncing the president and announcing their support for Guaidó. "We are fathers and sons, we are tired of so much uncertainty and injustice," said the soldiers.

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Around 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT) Saturday, the Colombian government estimated at around 300 the number of wounded at the borders. Local journalists reported serious injuries among protesters, many of whom appeared to have lost their sight.

Amnesty International has stated that the use of live ammunition against protesters was a serious violation of human rights and a crime under international law.

How has Maduro reactsed?

President Maduro continues to oppose Mr. Guaidó's claim to the presidency and has ignored international calls for new elections. He accused Mr. Guaidó of being a "puppet", an "American pawn", a "clown" and an "imperialist beggar".

As protests began on Venezuela's borders, Maduro organized a rally in Caracas. "Take your hands off Venezuela, Donald Trump," he told an enthusiastic crowd, accusing the US president of using this help to invade the country.

Despite dozens of countries backing the opposition leader, Maduro continues to support key economic allies, including Cuba, Russia and China. The United States is leading international efforts to pressure him and has put in place a series of financial sanctions against his government.

How did we get there?

Humanitarian aid stored in Colombia and Brazil is at the center of a conflict between Mr. Maduro and Mr. Guaidó, which dates back to Mr. Maduro's reelection in 2018 – a vote that Mr. Guaidó has declared illegitimate.

Venezuela has been in the grip of a political and economic crisis for several years. An uncontrollable rate of inflation has led to soaring prices, leaving many Venezuelans struggling with necessities.

Mr Guaidó insists that citizens are in dire need of help, while Mr Maduro claims that aid is an American ploy to invade the country. At least 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015.