By Beyza Binnur Donmez </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Venezuela is confronting small group of “traitorous” military personnel who are attempting a coup, said the nation’s vice president on Tuesday.</p> <p>Jorge Rodriguez said that a group of soldiers self-deployed in the Altamira distributor road, which is close to La Carlota military air base, for uprising against the Constitution and the peace of the country.</p> <p>"We call on the people to remain on high alert, together with the glorious Bolivarian National Armed Forces, to defeat the coup attempt and preserve the peace," he said.</p> <p>Rodriguez's remarks came after the opposition leader Juan Guiado published a video where he calls for an uprising with a group of soldiers.</p> <p>Diosdado Cabello, the head of National Constituent Assembly, also called on people and army to gather around the presidential palace to defend President Nicolas Maduro.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that the National Bolivarian Armed Forces will continue to defend the national constitution and all military units reported normalcy in their bases.
Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10, when Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.
Tensions escalated when Guaido, who heads Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself acting president on Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.
