March 4, 2019 1500 GMT | Opposition Leader Guaido(M) | Caracas, Venezuela(AP Photo)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Juan Guaido arrived today in Caracas to renew ongoing protest against Maduro regime. He landed at the country’s main airport, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Caracas. He said in a tweet he successfully passed through immigration checks.
Several European ambassadors who support his campaign for a change of leadership in Venezuela were at the scene as he arrived Monday. Dozens of countries have recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, arguing that last year’s re-election of Maduro was invalid.
Guaido has called for nationwide demonstrations coinciding with his arrival. He’d ignored an official ban on travelling to go abroad.
Venezuelans protesting against Maduro Govt (AP Photo)
Several hundred supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido have gathered in a Caracas plaza, heeding a call from the self-declared interim president to turn out for his expected return to Venezuela. More demonstrators on Monday were walking toward the plaza in the Las Mercedes district of the Venezuelan capital. Some carried national flags.
Guaido was greeted with cheers and applause at the rally of several thousand people in the Las Mercedes neighborhood in the Venezuelan capital. He told the demonstrators: “We’re much stronger than ever.”
Leader says the goal of his return is to intensify pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to resign so that a transitional government can take over and prepare Venezuela for free and fair elections.
While speaking to supporters at a Caracas demonstration after he returned to the country despite warnings he might face arrest. Guaido says he returned to Venezuela to renew his campaign to topple Maduro regime.
There was no immediate comment from Maduro’s government about the return of the opposition leader, who has declared himself an interim president supported by more than 50 countries so far.