Venezuelan Army Pledges Loyalty to Maduro, Tension Mounts

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his Defense minister, Vladimir Padrino.

HAVANA TIMES – The Venezuelan army on Thursday again pledged loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro and called for dialogue, criticizing the attempted takeover by National Assembly President Juan Guaido as “extremely dangerous,” reported dpa news.

“A coup d’etat is under way … against our democracy,” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said in Caracas, surrounded by generals.

“We recognize as legitimate president … our commander-in-chief … Nicolas Maduro,” the minister said.

The army “will never accept a president serving obscure interests” nor will it ever “submit to a foreign power,” Padrino vowed.

Padrino had already made a similar pledge on Twitter on Wednesday, saying the army rejected Guaido’s claim to the presidency.

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