Opposition leader Guaido returns to Venezuela amid arrest risk

World
Europe

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to his country on Monday after flouting a court-imposed travel ban by touring Latin American countries to boost support for his campaign to tighten regional pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.

The return of Guaido, who is recognized by most Western nations as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state, poses a direct challenge to Maduro, who had said the opposition leader would face justice when he returned.

"We are going to celebrate this small victory today," Guaido told a crowd of supporters at a plaza in the Las Mercedes district in eastern Caracas, where he announced a new protest march for Saturday.

Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido addresses a rally in Caracas, March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Guaido secretly left Venezuela for Colombia, in violation of a Supreme Court order, to coordinate efforts there on February 23 to send humanitarian aid into Venezuela to alleviate widespread shortages of food and medicine.

But troops blocked convoys of aid trucks sent from Colombia and Brazil, leading to clashes that killed at least six people along the Brazilian border, rights groups say.

From Colombia, he traveled to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay to shore up Latin American support for a transition government.

On Sunday, he departed by plane from the Ecuadorean coastal town of Salinas but had not appeared publicly since. Venezuelan media outlets reported that he flew from Panama City to Caracas.

He had kept details of his trip under wraps and he arrived without prior notice, meeting ambassadors for European countries at the airport.

Juan Guaido and his wife Fabiana Rosales arrive at the International Simon Bolivar airport in Maiquetia, Vargas state, Venezuela, March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Guaido calls Maduro a usurper and says his presidency is illegitimate after he secured re-election last year.

Maduro retains control of state institutions and the apparent loyalty of senior figures in the armed forces.

Guaido told reporters that immigration authorities at the airport addressed him as president - a swipe at Maduro, who calls him a U.S. puppet.

“Here's my passport, safe and sound,” Guaido said, showing it to the crowd.

Maduro has said Guaido's arrest depends on the justice system.

The United States has warned Maduro of the consequences of arresting Guaido and the U.S. Treasury imposed new sanctions on Friday targeting Venezuelan military officials.

After the military blocked the aid convoys, Guaido proposed that "all options be kept open" to topple Maduro, but foreign military intervention is seen as unlikely and his international backers are instead using a mix of sanctions and diplomacy.

(Top image: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido shows his passport to supporters at a rally upon his arrival in Caracas, March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters