Venezuelans rally in support of Maduro

Maduro was unharmed but several others sustained injuries. Authorities have arrested at least six people in connection with the attempted assassination.

Tuesday, August 07, 2018
Diosdado Cabello (C), president of the National Constituent Assembly, takes part in a rally in support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on Aug. 6, 2018. Venezuelans rallied in support of President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, following a failed assassination attempt on his life over the weekend. (Xinhua/Boris Vergara)

Venezuelans rallied in support of President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, following a failed assassination attempt on his life over the weekend.

The president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), Diosdado Cabello, led the rally as thousands of government supporters dressed in red, the color of the ruling socialist PSUV party, gathered in downtown Caracas.

From there, supporters marched to the presidential headquarters of Miraflores.

During an outdoor ceremony on Saturday commemorating the 81st anniversary of Venezuela's national guard, several drones flew close to the presidential stand as Maduro was giving a speech and exploded.

Maduro was unharmed but several others sustained injuries. Authorities have arrested at least six people in connection with the attempted assassination.

The attack was "not just against Maduro, but also against the people and officials," said Cabello.

Though world leaders have expressed their solidarity with Maduro, Venezuela's opposition has not condemned the attack, said Cabello, adding "an incident like this is reprehensible here or anywhere else in the world."

Xinhua