Gov’t backers block legislative meeting

CARACAS, (AP):

Government security forces and armed motorcycle groups loyal to Venezuela’s president forcefully blocked opposition lawmakers from entering the National Assembly building yesterday, prompting them to hold their session on the outskirts of the crisis-torn nation’s capital.

It’s the second time this month that lawmakers have been barred from the building that houses the only branch of government that remains out of control of President Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government.

Attempting to reach the legislative chamber, the caravan of cars carrying the deputies dodged through downtown streets, but ultimately failed.

Gunshots could be heard near the cars, but no injuries were reported. Two SUVs carrying the lawmakers came under attack by people on the street dressed in civilian clothes. They struck the rear window of one, shattering it.

Guaidó called it an “ambush” carried out by the military and paramilitary groups armed by a “brutal and wild” dictatorship.

Guaidó was not in the caravan that attempted to enter the legislative building, but later emerged with other lawmakers at a theatre in the Caracas suburb of El Hatillo.

“Today, we clearly reject before the world this attack, this ambush against the Federal Palace,” Guaidó said, referring to the legislative building. “The dictatorship has clearly exposed itself to the world.”