Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Venezuelan Leader Puts Militias on Patrol Ahead of Protests

Associated Press

   CARACAS - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is beefing up patrols by
   civilian militias across the nation as political rivals call for mass
   demonstrations against him.

   Maduro in a national broadcast Tuesday ordered the nation's 3.2 million
   militia members to patrol Venezuela's streets. He gave the command
   seated between the nation's top-ranking military leaders.

   The heightened patrols overlap with a Saturday protest called by
   opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido, who has led a nearly year-long
   campaign to oust Maduro with backing from the U.S. and 50 other
   nations.

   Guaido has not managed to rally large demonstrations in recent months.

   However, a wave of political unrest has struck several Latin American
   nations, and Bolivian socialist leader Evo Morales abruptly resigned
   Sunday.

   Maduro says the same "imperialist" forces that undermined Bolivia's
   president seek to oust him.

.