Protests in Venezuela labeled a 'coup attempt': 'We will overcome it'
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez has described the protests that began following the announcement of the presidential election results in the country as a "coup attempt."
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According to a report on the Telesur website, Lopez shared his assessment regarding the protests that began after those claiming the results of the July 28 presidential election—won by incumbent President Nicolas Maduro—were fraudulent took to the streets.
Lopez stated, "We are facing a coup attempt in Venezuela. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) of Venezuela will not allow this. We will overcome it decisively."
"THEY WILL BE TRIED FOR TERRORISM AND HATE CRIMES"
Emphasizing that the Armed Forces remain loyal to the constitution and President Maduro, Lopez said that violence never leads to a positive outcome.
Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab, meanwhile, likened the protests to "nests of violence creating chaos," claiming, "They want it to spread across the country so that outside intervention can take place."
Saab stated that those who damage public property will be tried for "terrorism and hate" crimes.
According to the results announced by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council, Maduro won the presidential election for the third time with 51.20 percent of the vote.
Edmundo Gonzalez, the candidate for the Venezuelan opposition coalition Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD), had stated that they rejected the election results.
Protests began to be organized over allegations that the results of the presidential election were fraudulent.