Santa Elena

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Saturday saw deadly confrontations at Border CrossingsContent ='JJ Lin'> as volunteers attempted to collect aid

Deadly clashes broke out in Venezuelan border towns on Saturday, as PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Nicolás Maduro blocked humanitarian aid from crossing from Colombia and Brazil.

At least Two PeopleContent ='JJ Lin'> were killed by gunfire on Saturday, rights groups said, including a 14-year-old boy.

Venezuelan troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters attempting to collect and transport the aid.

The opposition wants the aid to go to people hit by the economic crisis. Mr Maduro claims it is a security threat.

US Secretary of State Mike PompeoContent ='JJ Lin'> condemned the attacks on civilians, which he blamed on "Maduro's thugs".

"Our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died due to these criminal acts. We join their demand for justice,"

Mr Pompeo also described The BurningContent ='JJ Lin'> of some of the aid as "sickening".

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself interim PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> and helped to organise the aid, condemned The ActionContent ='JJ Lin'> by security forces.

Mr Guaidó, who has been recognised as leader by dozens of nations, will meet US Vice PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Mike PenceContent ='JJ Lin'> on Monday in Bogota, Colombia.

He is attending a meeting of the regional Lima Group, in spite of a travel ban imposed on him by Mr Maduro's government.

On Saturday evening, Mr Guaidó posted a tweet (in Spanish) which implored The InternationalContent ='JJ Lin'> community to be "open to all options" in order to "liberate" VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> from Mr Maduro - who is continuing to resist all calls to stand down.

Deadly violence at The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'>

Mr Guaidó organised The CollectionContent ='JJ Lin'> of hundreds of tonnes of foreign aid at the Country 's borders. He gave the government a deadline of Saturday to allow the aid to be brought into VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> or vowed to have volunteers march it in themselves.

In response, PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Maduro partly closed the Country 's borders with Brazil and Colombia, citing threats to security and sovereignty. On Saturday, Venezuelan civilians attempted to cross in order to get to the aid, which included food and medicine.

A demonstrator runs into Barbed WireContent ='JJ Lin'> strung across a street in Ureña

Images from crossing points across the Country showed security forces firing tear gas at volunteers. Protesters Burned outposts and threw projectiles at soldiers and riot police.

Rights groups say at least Two PeopleContent ='JJ Lin'> , including a 14-year-old boy, were shot dead in Saturday's clashes in Santa ElenaContent ='JJ Lin'> de Uairen, near the Country 's border with Brazil. Another two were reported to have been killed on Friday.

Amnesty InternationalContent ='JJ Lin'> has described the use of firearms against protesters as a serious Human RightsContent ='JJ Lin'> violation and A CrimeContent ='JJ Lin'> under International LawContent ='JJ Lin'> .

There have also been reports of several aid trucks being Burned - SomethingContent ='JJ Lin'> Mr Guaidó said was a violation of the Geneva Convention.

At about 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Saturday, Colombia's government estimated The NumberContent ='JJ Lin'> injured at Border CrossingsContent ='JJ Lin'> to be about 300. Journalists at The SceneContent ='JJ Lin'> have reported severe injuries among protesters, including several who appeared to have lost their eyes.

Mr Guaidó visited the Tienditas bridge on the Colombian side of The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> , where he addressed soldiers abandoning their posts - promising them "amnesty" if they joined the "right side of history".

At least 60 soldiers had defected by late Saturday, according to Colombia's migration service. But most of the military still appeared to be loyal to PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Maduro.

A video posted on Social MediaContent ='JJ Lin'> "We are fathers and sons, we have had enough of so much uncertainty and injustice," The SoldiersContent ='JJ Lin'> said.

How has Maduro reacted?

PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Maduro continues to oppose Mr Guaidó's claim to The PresidencyContent ='JJ Lin'> and has ignored international calls to hold new elections. He has accused Mr Guaidó of being a "puppet", an "American pawn", a "clown" and an "imperialist beggar".

As protests got under way at VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> 's borders, Mr Maduro staged a rally in Caracas. "Take your hands off VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> , Donald TrumpContent ='JJ Lin'> ," he told a cheering crowd, accusing the US PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> of using the aid as a means to invade the Country .

A demonstrator kneels before security forces in Ureña

Despite dozens of countries backing the opposition leader, Mr Maduro maintains the support of key economic allies including Cuba, Russia and China. The US is leading The InternationalContent ='JJ Lin'> effort to pressure him, and has implemented a raft of financial sanctions against his government.

How did we get to this point?

Humanitarian aid is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing standoff between Mr Maduro and Mr Guaidó.

Mr Guaidó, who is the leader of the Country 's opposition-dominated National AssemblyContent ='JJ Lin'> , last month declared himself the Country 's interim leader. He has called Mr Maduro's rule constitutionally illegitimate because of alleged irregularities with the 2018 general ElectionContent ='JJ Lin'> .

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VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> has been in the grip of a political and economic crisis for several years. An out-of-control inflation rate has seen prices soar, leaving many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items such as food, toiletries and medicine.

Mr Guaidó insists that citizens badly need help, while Mr Maduro views aid as a ploy by the US to invade the Country . At least 2. 7 million people have fled the Country since 2015.

nicolás maduro, venezuela crisis, venezuela, juan guaidó

Source of news: bbc.com