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Two killed as Maduro sends troops to block Venezuela aid convoys
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS FEBRUARY 23, 2019 / 5:06 AM / UPDATED 9 MINUTES AGO
Two killed as Maduro sends troops to block Venezuela aid convoys
Steven Grattan, Anggy Polanco, Mayela Armas
6 MIN READ
CUCUTA, Colombia/URENA, Venezuela (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and trucks loaded with foreign aid were set ablaze after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deployed troops and armored vehicles to turn back humanitarian assistance at border crossings with Colombia and Brazil.
Maduro said he was breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia and ordered its diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 24 hours because of its government’s assistance to opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Guaido, who most Western nations recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, gave a personal send-off on Saturday to a convoy carrying U.S. aid departing from the Colombian city of Cucuta. The opposition says the foreign humanitarian assistance is desperately needed to tackle widespread food and medicine shortages in Venezuela.
But Maduro denies his oil-rich nation has any need of aid and accuses Guaido of being a coup-mongering puppet for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Washington warned on Friday that it could impose tough new sanctions on Venezuela if Maduro blocked the aid shipments.
-snip-
Two killed as Maduro sends troops to block Venezuela aid convoys
Steven Grattan, Anggy Polanco, Mayela Armas
6 MIN READ
CUCUTA, Colombia/URENA, Venezuela (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and trucks loaded with foreign aid were set ablaze after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deployed troops and armored vehicles to turn back humanitarian assistance at border crossings with Colombia and Brazil.
Maduro said he was breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia and ordered its diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 24 hours because of its government’s assistance to opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Guaido, who most Western nations recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, gave a personal send-off on Saturday to a convoy carrying U.S. aid departing from the Colombian city of Cucuta. The opposition says the foreign humanitarian assistance is desperately needed to tackle widespread food and medicine shortages in Venezuela.
But Maduro denies his oil-rich nation has any need of aid and accuses Guaido of being a coup-mongering puppet for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Washington warned on Friday that it could impose tough new sanctions on Venezuela if Maduro blocked the aid shipments.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/two-killed-as-maduro-sends-troops-to-block-venezuela-aid-convoys-idUSKCN1QC091
