Wednesday 01 / October / 2025
Caracas: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has called for an escalating series of strikes to force President Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power.
Guaidó urged public employees to act on Thursday, saying the stoppages would lead to a general strike.
For years, public employees have been threatened that any participation in public rallies will lead to them losing their jobs.
A woman was killed and dozens were injured when protesters and security forces clashed in Caracas on Wednesday.
Maduro meanwhile dismissed suggestions he had been ready to flee and accused the US of directing a coup.
Those involved would be punished, he said.
On Tuesday, Guaidó posted a video showing him with a number of men in military uniform. He said he had the support of "brave soldiers" in Caracas.
He urged Venezuelans to join them in the streets, and appeared alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who had been under house arrest since 2014
Tensions over the crisis are also rising between the US and Russia.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US could take military action to resolve the crisis and accused Russia and Cuba of destabilising the country through their support for Maduro.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Mr Pompeo that America's influence over Venezuela was destructive and a violation of international law.
The Mexican government expressed "concern about a possible increase in violence" while Colombian President Ivan Duque urged the Venezuelan military to stand "on the right side of history" against Maduro.
