Victory against US cybernetics attack on electric system: Maduro on ending blackout

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared victory after restoring electricity in most of the Latin American nation, which has been in the grips of a blackout since last week. "Today...five days since the attack on electricity was carried out from the United States using cybernetics against the electric system, I can say that victory is in our hands, the victory of restoring the Venezuelan electricity system," Xinhua quoted Maduro as saying on Tuesday.

He further said now that electricity had been restored to most of the nation, the government would work on strengthening the electricity service. The Latin American nation is currently in the throes of political turmoil following January 23, when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself to be the President of Venezuela. The United States immediately supported Guaido and also rallied for other nations to side with the National Assembly President.

While Maduro is the elected President of Venezuela, most of the international community has decried the previous elections as rigged. Making things worse, Venezuela's economy is currently grappling with US-imposed sanctions, as a major shortage of medicines and inflation is leading to growing public dissent against the Maduro-government. Meanwhile, the United States is considering "very significant additional" sanctions in connection with Venezuela in the coming days, according to the US Special Representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams.

Maduro blamed the United States for the power outage in 22 out of 23 states, accusing US-backed Guaido of carrying out a cyber attack on Venezuela's power supply system. Around 17 people have died from the blackout alone in the nation.