The Latest on Venezuela’s political crisis (all times local) :
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – The Latest on Venezuela’s political crisis (all times local) :
4: 20 p.m.
Venezuela’s constitutional assembly has sworn in a government loyalist to replace the ousted Luisa Ortega as the nation’s chief prosecutor.
Tarek William Saab immediately vowed to protect the rights of Venezuelans amid what he said were “historic circumstances” marked by external threats faced by everyone “from the head of state to the most modest of Venezuelans.”
Saab had been serving as Venezuela’s Ombudsman, charged with protecting the rights of Venezuelans. But he was sanctioned last month by the Trump administration for allegedly failing to carry out his duties amid a crackdown on anti-government protesters that has left dozens dead and hundreds more jailed.
Saab is considered one of President Maduro’s most staunch supporters. He has remained loyal even in the face of familial strife after his son, at the start of the protest movement, released a video calling on his father to abandon the government and put himself on the right side of history.
__
3: 45 p.m.
Luisa Ortega isn’t going quietly after Venezuela’s new, all-powerful constitutional assembly removed her from her office as chief prosecutor for the South American nation.
Ortega says in a statement that she refuses to recognize the assembly’s decision and will continue fighting injustices committed by the government “with my last breath.”
Ortega says Saturday’s action against her should sound alarms in Venezuela and around the world over the lengths to which President Nicolas Maduro’s government is willing to go to carry out a “coup” against the constitution.
She calls it “just a tiny example of what’s coming for everyone that dares to oppose this totalitarian form of ruling.”
Ortega is a longtime government loyalist who broke with Maduro in April. She signed the statement using her prosecutor’s title.
___
2: 15 p.m.
Venezuela’s president is accusing Washington and its regional allies of a campaign of lies against his country in order to appropriate the world’s largest oil reserves.
Nicolas Maduro says “they come walking down the middle of the street barking orders, treating rulers like their maids.”
He suggests that their ultimate goal is “our immense petroleum wealth.”
Maduro’s comments appear to be a response to President Donald’s Trump’s threat to slap economic sanctions on Venezuela after a special assembly packed with government loyalists was installed Friday. Its mission is to rewrite the nation’s constitution, but many fear it will lead to a new crackdown on the president’s political opponents.
Maduro spoke in an interview with Radio Rebelde of Argentina on Saturday, shortly before the assembly ordered the removal of Venezuela’s chief prosecutor, a onetime loyalist turned staunch critic of the government.
___
1: 45 p.m.
President Trump’s top national security adviser says he doesn’t see a military intervention in Venezuela as likely, even as he’s calling on nations to help “rescue” the country from “authoritarian dictatorship.”
General H. R. McMaster notes the historical resentment in Latin America over the United States’ long history of military interventions in the region. He says he doesn’t want to give Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro any added ammunition to blame the “Yankees” for the oil-rich nation’s economic and political crisis.
McMaster says in an interview with Hugh Hewitt that aired Saturday on MSNBC that “You’ve seen Maduro have some lame attempts to try to do that already.”
He adds that “it’s important for us to place responsibility for this catastrophe on Maduro’s shoulders. He is the one who has caused it, and he’s the one who’s perpetuating it.”
McMaster singles out backing from Cuba as well as financial support from China and Russia for keeping Maduro in power.
The Trump administration slapped sanctions on Maduro following the recent election of a constitutional assembly with authority trumping all other branches of government.
Maduro accuses Washington of conspiring with Venezuela’s opposition to seek his ouster. He repeated his claim that Venezuela is the victim of international aggression in an interview with Argentina’s Radio Rebelde on Saturday.
In his words: “The United States has historically believed itself the owner of Latin America.”
___
11: 45 a.m.
Venezuela’s newly installed constitutional assembly has voted unanimously to remove chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega and replaced her with a government loyalist.
As the vote was taking place, pro-government delegates shouted “traitor” and “justice has arrived!”
She will be replaced by Tarek William Saab, a staunch government supporter who currently serves as the nation’s ombudsman.
Saturday’s vote came after security forces took control of the entrance to the prosecutor’s office in downtown Caracas and barred Ortega from entering.
Human rights groups and foreign governments have denounced attacks by government officials on Ortega, the nation’s top law enforcement official.
___
11: 30 a.m.
The South American trade bloc Mercosur has decided to suspend Venezuela for failing to follow democratic norms.
Venezuela was previously suspended in December for failing to uphold commitments it made when it joined the group in 2012.
Saturday’s decision will make it harder for the country to return to good standing since the new suspension can only be lifted when the bloc is satisfied that Venezuela has restored democratic order.
The meeting of Mercosur foreign ministers in Sao Paulo on Saturday comes as Venezuela’s newly formed constitutional assembly pledged to move quickly against President Nicolas Maduro’s opponents.
The assembly will have sweeping powers and the opposition fears it will be used to strengthen Maduro’s power and crack down further on dissent.
___
11: 20 a.m.
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor says she is being barred from entering her offices by security forces that surrounded the building as a pro-government constitutional assembly is expected to consider removing her.
Luisa Ortega says troops pushed and “attacked” her with their riot shields to prevent her from accessing the headquarters of the public ministry.
She accuses authorities of trying to hide corruption and human rights violations.
Ortega spoke Saturday to journalists gathered beyond a heavy security perimeter set up by hundreds of national guardsmen.
