Venezuela’s National Guard has fired tear gas on residents clearing a barricaded border bridge between Venezuela and Colombia to let humanitarian aid pass through.
By Associated Press Reporters
February 23 2019 12:21 PM
Venezuela’s National Guard has fired tear gas on residents clearing a barricaded border bridge between Venezuela and Colombia to let humanitarian aid pass through.
The tensions flared at dawn on Saturday at the blocked entrance of the Francisco de Paula Santander bridge in the Venezuelan border town of Urena.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to bring humanitarian aid across into Venezuela from Colombia over objections from President Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuelan officials have ordered the border with Colombia closed after already shutting down crossings from Brazil and the island of Curacao, other points of entry for the aid.
But the residents in Urena have defied government orders and began removing yellow metal barricades and barbed wire.
Later, three members of Venezuela’s National Guard deserted their posts and solicited help from Colombia.
Colombian migration authorities said they received the request early on Saturday at the Simon Bolivar bridge connecting the two countries.
