Clashes break out at Venezuela May Day protest

Clashes broke out between opposition supporters and Venezuela's armed forces in the capital Caracas on Wednesday as May Day protests got underway with opposition leader Juan Guaido attempting to rally demonstrators against President Nicolas Maduro.

National Guard troops fired teargas at stone-throwing protesters attempting to block a highway close to the air base in eastern Caracas where Guaido had tried on Tuesday to spark a military uprising against Maduro.

A second day of clashes between opposition supporters and Maduro's security services came as the United States said it was prepared to take military action, if necessary, to stem the crisis in the South American nation.

The US and Russia, meanwhile, accused each other of making the crisis worse, evoking Cold War confrontations of the past.

In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Moscow of "destabilizing" Venezuela. Lavrov, in turn, charged that US interference was "destructive" and "in flagrant violation of international law."
Maduro congratulated the armed forces for having "defeated this small group that intended to spread violence through putschist skirmishes." Accusing Guaido of attempting to stage a coup, he vowed, "This will not go unpunished."
"Yesterday we saw soldiers recognizing our interim president. We have to stay in the streets," said Patricia Requena, 40. "I'll keep demonstrating as long as God allows me to." Guaido published a list on Twitter on Wednesday morning of 15 gathering points for protesters, adding the message: "We continue with greater strength than ever Venezuela."