Venezuelan opposition divided

Cracks showed in Venezuela’s putschist opposition alliance ahead of the latest street barricade shutdown on Tuesday.

Far-right Popular Will (VP) party acting leader Freddy Guevara accused the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) on Monday night of misrepresenting him in posts on its Twitter account.

It quoted Mr Guevara — also deputy speaker of the Mud-dominated National Assembly — saying earlier that day: “The way to solve this crisis is the electoral way.”

But he also claimed United Socialist Party (PSUV) President Nicolas Maduro was “the only one responsible” for Sunday’s attack by 20 mercenaries — led by an expelled army officer based in Miami — on an army base in Carabobo state.

He said if some Venezuelans “think armed conflict is needed, it’s the responsibility of the dictatorship.”

On his Twitter account Mr Guevara called the message an “error” and an attempt to “simplify” his comments to reporters.

“I understand it created confusion and hopelessness, but it was out of context,” he wrote.

Mr Guevara called for “everyone on the streets” for the latest road blockade protest — seemingly designed to worsen shortages of food, medicines and other goods that has fuelled discontent with the government.

But only a few dozen turned out for the protest in Caracas — the latest sign of ebbing support for the MUD's campaign of violence and economic disruption.

In an opinion piece dated Monday, former PSUV MP and teacher Euribes Guevara said the MUD-affiliated parties were now split into two camps: the Group of Seven (G7) and the Group of Four (G4).

Henry Ramos, general secretary of second-biggest party Democratic Action (AD) leads one faction, ready to participate in December’s Sate Governor elections.

He is backed by A New Time (UNT)’s Manuel Rosales, Progressive Advance leader Henri Falcon and some smaller parties.

But biggest Mud affiliate Justice First (PJ) leader Henrique Capriles heads those advocating an escalation of violence, along with Maria Corina of Come Venezuela (VV), VP leader Leopoldo Lopez and Fearless People's Alliance (ABP)’s Antonio Ledezma.

Mr Ledezma was jailed for plotting a coup in early 2015 and Mr Lopez that September for inciting 2014’s “Guarimba” riots that left 43 dead.

Both so-called “political prisoners” were returned to house arrest over the weekend after briefly being re-imprisoned after authorities were tipped off to a possible escape attempt.

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Venezuela’s opposition declared “Zero Hour” in its putsch against the socialist government on Monday — emboldened by US support. Leaders of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) coalition gathered for the announcement of their takeover plan a day after their unauthorised referendum seeking a mandate for regime change. National Assembly vice-president and Popular Will (VP) acting leader Freddy Guevara said the Mud-controlled parliament would announce the results of the plebiscite on Tuesday. It asked voters to reject President Nicolas Maduro’s calling of a constitutional reform assembly demand the army support the opposition and back a “national unity government.” But before the announcement of the result Mr Guevara said the national Assembly would form a new government on Tuesday — a move beyond its constitutional powers — along with 1,020 local “Zero Hour committees.” He called a “national general strike” for Thursday while on Friday the assembly would again exceed its powe

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