Venezuelan authorities say they are putting down a small coup attempt after opposition leader Juan Guaidó announced he was in the “final phase” of ending President Nicolás Maduro’s rule.
He appeared in a video with uniformed men, saying he had military support. Guaidó, who declared himself interim president in January, called for more members of the military to help him end Maduro’s “usurpation” of power.
But military leaders appeared to be standing behind Maduro. Venezuela’s defence minister appeared on television to stress the point. However, photos from Caracas show some soldiers aligning themselves with Guaidó’s supporters.
Maduro’s detractors hope the military will change its allegiance as resentment grows following years of hyperinflation, power cuts, food and medicine shortages.
So far, they have stood by Maduro – despite dozens of countries, including the UK, the US and most of Latin America, recognising Mr Guaidó as Venezuela’s rightful leader.
Protesters supporting both sides have gathered at different points in the capital, Caracas.
There are running clashes between Guaidó’s supporters and armed military vehicles. Protesters were also seen throwing rocks, but being repelled by tear gas and water cannon.
Television cameras also caught the moment armoured vehicles drove into a crowd but it is unclear if there were any injuries.
El Universal newspaper said that at least 37 people had been injured across Caracas.
The BBC’s Guillermo Olmo, in Caracas, said Tuesday marked the most violent episode of the Venezuelan political crisis so far.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said the uprising by some members of the military had been “partly defeated”, but warned of possible bloodshed.
“The weapons of the republic are here to defend the nation’s sovereignty and independence,” he warned.
He also revealed one soldier had suffered a bullet wound.
A three-minute video by Guaidó was published in the early hours of Tuesday. In it, he announced he had the support of “brave soldiers” in Caracas. “The National Armed Forces have taken the correct decision… they are guaranteed to be on the right side of history,” he said.
He was filmed alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who has been under house arrest since being found guilty of inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014.
López, who leads the Popular Will party of which Mr Guaidó is a member, said he had been freed by members of the military.
He went on to urge Venezuelans to join them: “All Venezuelans who want freedom should come here, disrupt order, join and encourage our soldiers, join our people.”
