Venezuela’s Guaido Says 600 Military Officers Have Abandoned Maduro

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country's rightful interim ruler looks on while attending a joint press conference with Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez at the Lopez Palace in Asuncion, Paraguay, March 1, 2019. Jorge Adorno/Reuters

ASUNCION–Venezuelan interim president leader Juan Guaido, visiting Paraguay on March 1 to raise support for a change of government in his country, said that 600 members of the military had abandoned illegitimate socialist dictator President Nicolas Maduro in recent days.

Venezuela’s National Assembly declared Maduro a usurper in January and invoked the constitution to hand the interim presidency to Guaido. The United States and 50 Western nations have recognized Guaido as the legitimate leader since.