Under siege at home, Maduro gets support from regional allies in Cuba

Under siege at home, Maduro gets support from regional allies in Cuba

Venezuela's leftist, regional allies pledged to support its embattled
government at a summit in Havana on Monday, where President Nicolas
Maduro accused the opposition of resorting to violence to lay the
groundwork for a foreign invasion.

The show of solidarity comes as Maduro faces intensifying criticism
abroad, as well as the first sustained wave of anti-government
demonstrations in three years, fueled by an economic crisis and erosion
of democracy.

"We reject the aggressions and concerted manipulations against our
ally," read the statement published by the leftist ALBA bloc of 11
Caribbean and Latin American countries.

The association was founded by Communist-ruled Cuba and its top ally
Venezuela 13 years ago as a counterpoint to U.S. influence in Latin America.

It singled out the Washington-based Organization of American States,
which has been bitterly critical of Maduro, for what it called attempts
to undermine Venezuela's sovereignty.

The OAS chief, Luis Almagro, called for elections to restore full
democracy in Venezuela, given the political and institutional crisis
roiling the country.

Venezuela's Supreme Court decided in late March to take over the
functions of the opposition-led Congress before an outcry forced it to
retreat. On Friday, Maduro banned opposition leader Henrique Capriles
from political office for 15 years.

"We condemn the interventionist, illegal and pro-imperialist behavior of
the OAS secretary general," the statement read.

To preserve Venezuela's independence was to "preserve the independence,
unity, and development of the region", said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno
Rodriguez.

"This is the time of unity, peace and hope," said Rodriguez.

Latin America has shifted away from leftist populism toward more
centrist policies in recent years and so the ALBA bloc has lost
heavyweight regional allies, such as Argentina and Brasil.

Venezuela has come under increased pressure over the past weeks not just
from the OAS, but also American and European countries that have
condemned its crackdown on the opposition.

During a 1-1/2-hour speech, Maduro said he was open to dialogue but the
opposition was not.

"The only way to reach peace is through words, through dialogue," he
said. "But the reality is the order has come from Washington for zero
dialogue in Venezuela, to make our country explode and give way for a
foreign intervention".

Opposition leaders slammed the government for arbitrary use of force in
breaking up Monday's demonstrations, pointing to tear gas being fired
into one Caracas clinic.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Source: Under siege at home, Maduro gets support from regional allies in
Cuba | Reuters -
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-venezuela-idUSKBN17D0AJ