Venezuela’s defense minister has described the anti-government protests that erupted after the announcement of disputed election results as a “coup”.
people Taking to the streets of towns across Venezuela Protests on Monday came after the government-led electoral body declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner of the election.
Venezuela’s two main non-governmental organizations said many people were killed and dozens injured.
As people gathered for a new protest rally, General Vladimir Padrino read a statement saying President Nicolás Maduro had the “absolute loyalty and unconditional support” of the armed forces which would ” Defeat the coup”.
Venezuela’s attorney general, a close ally of Maduro, said a soldier had been killed during anti-government protests.
Justice Minister Tariq William Saab added that 749 people had been arrested.
He told reporters that most would be charged with “resisting authority and, in the most serious cases, terrorism.”
The opposition People’s Volunteer Party said among those detained was its national political coordinator Freddy Superano.
The party warned that the government was stepping up a crackdown on activists demanding the release of polling station results, which the opposition said proved their candidate’s victory.
Protests erupted after the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE) – a member of Maduro’s own party who has served as Maduro’s legal adviser – announced that the president would be re-elected for a third consecutive term.
CNE earlier announced that Maduro won with 51% of the vote, ahead of Edmundo González’s 44%.
However, electoral authorities have so far not released detailed vote counts, which the opposition says suggests the results announced by the CNE were fraudulent.
The Organization of American States (OAS), the regional organization in the Americas, accused the Venezuelan government of completely distorting the results.
The opposition coalition backing Mr Gonzalez said they had been able to review 73.2% of the vote count and insisted they confirmed Mr Gonzalez’s victory by a wide margin.
“Our record shows our absolute, mathematically irreversible victory,” Mr Gonzalez said.
Amid widespread discontent, opposition parties have rallied behind Mr Gonzalez in his bid to oust President Maduro after 11 years in power.
Nearly 7.8 million people have fled the economic and political crisis rocking the country under Maduro’s government.
On Monday, crowds chanted “freedom, freedom” and called for the government to step down.
In some areas, posters of President Maduro were torn down and burned, and tires, cars and trash were set on fire.
“We want young people to have a better future, otherwise they will leave the country,” Miguel Sarzalejo, 64, told the BBC.
“We have a rich country but he is destroying everything,” he added, referring to President Maduro.
The opposition urged its supporters to rally peacefully in squares across the country on Tuesday, while the government also called on its supporters to rally.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations secretary-general, said Venezuelans must be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful protest.
“It is important that all political leaders and their supporters reject all forms of violence, threats of violence or incitement to violence. As in every country, it is most important that the authorities respect the right of people to demonstrate peacefully and respect the rights of people.
