Maduro: ‘Coup attempt’ defeated

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says a coup attempt by a small group of the military has been defeated, expressing gratitude to the country’s armed forces for their continued loyalty to him.

Sitting alongside senior military and political leaders, Maduro said in a televised speech late on Tuesday that the group of military personnel supporting opposition figures Leopoldo Lopez and Juan Guaido had been defeated.

“The empire seeks to attack and overthrow a legitimate government to enslave Venezuela,” Maduro said. “I want to congratulate the Military High Command for its courage in defending peace.”