get short url 0 9 0 0 venezuela's national armed forces council, the principal body for consultations on defense issues, will be working on a regular basis amid the ongoing protests of the opposition, dissatisfied with the current leadership, venezuelan president nicolas maduro said wednesday. 




mexico city (sputnik) <u+2014> on tuesday, the opposition-led national assembly voted to initiate impeachment proceedings against maduro , claiming he had violated democracy, to which the president accused lawmakers of trying to stage a parliamentary coup . <u+00a9> afp 2016/ ronaldo schemidt rival factions to rally across venezuela as impeachment crisis escalates 




earlier on wednesday, opposition leader henrique capriles initiated a large-scale peaceful protest across the country to defend the nation<u+2019>s right to a referendum on maduro's recall. according to media reports, police in some venezuelan cities started to use tear gas against the opposition protesters. "i want us to start a continuous session, to take into account this issue [of political tension ]<u+2026> with more wisdom and with the widest possible evaluation criterion," maduro said at a council meeting, as quoted by the avn news agency. the leader did not specify how often the council would be convened. <u+00a9> ap photo/ ariana cubillos venezuela on-edge as right wing attempts soft coup on maduro 




maduro also expressed regret that the council meeting was not attended by president of the national assembly henry ramos. "it is a pity that the president of the national assembly continues to show lack of respect for the constitution, and does not want dialogue. here is his empty chair, i hope that he will start to act sensibly, because we need to strengthen democracy." 




venezuelan opposition has been seeking a referendum to remove maduro from office. the process to collect signatures for a petition on his recall was halted last week on accusations that the signature gathering was rigged. ...
venezuelan armed forces council to work regularly amid opposition protests
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