Venezuelan Defense Minister: 'The military is completely on the side of the legitimate government'
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino declared that the country's armed forces are fully on the side of "the constitution and the legitimate government."
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| Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino. Photo: Sputnik |
Padrino's statement came after opposition leader Juan Guaido called on Venezuelans and the military to take to the streets to complete what he called "Operation Freedom" to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
"The Bolivarian Army firmly supports the national Constitution and the legitimate government. All military units deployed in the eight inter-districts report to the normal situation in their staffs and bases, all under their command," Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino wrote on Twitter.
The head of Venezuela's military also declared that the army rejects the actions of the coup plotters, who are trying to "fill the country with violence".
Earlier, the country's Minister of Information and Communications, Jorge Rodriguez, announced that the government was taking action against a group of military personnel who were "plotting to promote" a coup in the country.
The president of Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, announced that the situation in the country remains "absolutely calm".