Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro hit out yesterday at military “mercenaries” he says are conspiring to divide the armed forces and plot a coup as the opposition planned a new protest to force the socialist leader from power.
Maduro accused an “oligarchy” in neighboring Colombia of being behind an attempt by military deserters to drive a wedge between himself and his loyal forces, which are key to the leader’s hold on power faced with mounting international support for self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti agency, Maduro said he was willing to negotiate with the opposition and, mockingly, even offered to bring forward parliamentary elections. “