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Venezuelan military blocks bridge at Colombia border: opposition
SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela, Feb 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Venezuelan military
officers blocked Tuesday a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an
anticipated international humanitarian aid shipment to alleviate major
shortages of food and medicine, the opposition said.
A tanker truck and a huge cargo container barred access to the Tienditas
bridge, which links Cucuta, Colombia to Urena, Venezuela.
Franklyn Duarte, an opposition lawmaker from the border state of Tachira,
told AFP that “troops from the armed forces are blocking the pass.”
The aid delivery was being coordinated by Juan Guaido, the head of the
National Assembly who has declared himself interim president of the oil-rich
country. Some 40 countries have recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate
leader.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has refused to accept international
aid, terming it an “excuse” to initiate a military intervention led by the
United States.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0951 hrs