‘It would be a big mistake for Maduro or supporters to use force against civilians’: John Bolton

‘It would be a big mistake for Maduro or supporters to use force against civilians’: John Bolton

US national security adviser John Bolton said on Tuesday that the US is hoping for a peaceful transfer of power in Venezuela, adding it would be a big mistake for President Nicolas Maduro to use force against civilians, Euronews reports.

Speaking outside the White House, Bolton stressed that the uprising announced earlier on Tuesday by Venezuelan National Assembly chief Juan Guaido was not a coup but that since the opposition leader was the legitimate president it was normal that he tried taking back control.

Guaido called for a military uprising to oust Maduro from power, which led to violent clashes between authorities and opposition supporters.

The national security adviser also stressed the US expected for Russia not to get involved in Venezuela’s political turmoil.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza accused Washington of helping Guaido orchestrate the uprising.

“It is not a coup attempt from the military. This is directly planned in Washington, in the Pentagon and Department of State, and by Bolton,” Arreaza told Reuters in a phone interview from Caracas.

“They are leading this coup and giving orders to this man Guaido,” he said.