Venezuela thanks Turkey for support against coup bid

By Sinan Dogan</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Venezuelan Embassy in Ankara on Tuesday thanked Turkey for its stance against coup bid in the south American country.</p> <p>In a statement, the embassy expressed its appreciation of Turkish government and people for their support to the sovereign, democratic and constitutional government of Venezuela.</p> <p>The Venezuelan army has intervened to neutralize a small number of coup plotters with the support of Venezuelan people, it said.</p> <p>According to the statement, Tuesday’s coup attempt was led by the “U.S. empire's puppet Juan Guaido”.</p> <p>Earlier, Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido released a video — in which he can be seen alongside a small contingent of uniformed military personnel and armored vehicles — calling for an uprising to end the &quot;usurpation&quot; of Maduro.</p> <p>He stressed it was the beginning of the final phase of the “Operacion Libertad”, or Operation Liberty, to oust Maduro.</p> <p>“The National Armed Forces have made the correct decision, they have the support of the Venezuelan people,&quot; Guaido said.</p> <p>Guaido also called on Venezuelans to take to the streets to support the &quot;democratic forces&quot; and &quot;recover the country's freedom&quot;.