Venezuelan opposition seizes diplomatic offices in U.S.; Maduro official warns of "reciprocal" actio

[Eugene]

Source: CBS News

Venezuelan opposition seizes diplomatic offices in U.S.; Maduro official warns of "reciprocal" action

BY CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ, CHRISTINA RUFFINI
MARCH 18, 2019 / 10:02 PM / CBS NEWS

Washington — Representatives of National Assembly President Juan Guaidó, who has been recognized by the U.S. and more than four dozen countries as Venezuela's legitimate leader, said they took control of three diplomatic offices in Washington and New York that were formerly operated by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Touring an abandoned diplomatic facility operated by Venezuela's military attaché, Carlos Vecchio, Guaidó's ambassador to the U.S, said the opposition had gained control of two defense ministry facilities in Washington and one consular building in New York with the backing of U.S. authorities. He added that he expects officials loyal to Guaidó to gain control of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood "in the days to come."

"They destroyed everything. That's what they have done here. They have destroyed this house. This is an asset that belonged to the Venezuelans," Vecchio told reporters Monday after replacing a portrait of Maduro on the building's wall with one of Guaidó. "If they do this in U.S., you can imagine what they are doing in Venezuela."

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Vecchio was accompanied by Colonel José Luis Silva Silva, Venezuela's military attaché in Washington and one of the few high-ranking Venezuelan armed forces officials to defect and back the opposition.

The move by Guaidó's representatives will likely escalate tensions between Maduro's government and the Trump administration, which along with recognizing Guaidó, has imposed sweeping sanctions against the South American regime and pledged to spend millions in humanitarian aid for the Venezuelan people. With a collapsing economy, many Venezuelans are grappling with food and medicine shortages.

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Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuelan-opposition-juan-guaido-seizes-diplomatic-offices-ny-dc-maduro-official-warns-reciprocal-action/

[MRubio]

1. "They destroyed everything. That's.............

...............what they have done here. They have destroyed this house. This is an asset that belonged to the Venezuelans," Vecchio told reporters Monday after replacing a portrait of Maduro on the building's wall with one of Guaidó. "If they do this in U.S., you can imagine what they are doing in Venezuela."

Bingo Mr. Vecchio. The country is now a smoldering pile of shit. But hey, most everyone's equal now............except for the alta-chavistas. They're special.