Venezuela's defence minister supports Maduro amid concerns of military coup

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Tuesday that the armed forces remained "firmly in defence" of the "legitimate" government of President Nicolas Maduro after opposition leader Juan Guaido said he had the military's support.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Tuesday that he had begun the "final phase" of his plan to oust President Nicolas Maduro, calling on Venezuelans and the military to back him to end Maduro's "usurpation." There were reports later that security forces have fired tear gas at Guaido and around 70 armed men in military uniform near the La Carlota air force base in Caracas.

Padrino, in a series of Twitter posts, said all military units across the country had reported "normality" in their barracks and military bases.

Guaido, the leader of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, in January, invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro's re-election in 2018 was illegitimate.

He has been travelling outside the capital Caracas more and more in recent weeks to try to put pressure on Maduro to step down.

Guaido, in a video posted on his Twitter account, was accompanied by men in military uniform and opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, who has been placed under house arrest.

En el marco de nuestra constitución. Y por el cese definitivo de la usurpación. https://t.co/3RD2bnQhxt

— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) April 30, 2019

"The national armed forces have taken the correct decision, and they are counting on the support of the Venezuelan people," Guaido said.

Protests are planned for Wednesday, May 1, including what Guaido has said will be "the largest march in Venezuela's history", part of what he calls the "definitive phase" of his effort to take office in order to call fresh elections.

Around 50 countries including the United States have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, and Washington has imposed sanctions to try to dislodge Maduro.

Spain said on Tuesday it did not support any military coup in Venezuela, even though it considered opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate leader.

Maduro for his part has appeared to retain control of state institutions and the loyalty of senior military officers. He calls Guaido a U.S-backed puppet who seeks to oust him in a coup. The government has arrested his top aide, stripped Guaido of his parliamentary immunity and opened multiple probes. It has also barred him from leaving the country, a ban Guaido openly violated earlier this year.