Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged the army on Saturday to prepare for the possibility of US military action. Watch full video to know more.

President Maduro tells military to be ready for potential US military action

Guaido says Maduro paid Russia with gold for military presence

US President Donald Trump's national security advisor said Sunday that members of Venezuela's military have been in conversation with National Assembly members about how they might move to support the opposition.

National Security Advisor John Bolton stopped short of predicting the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro but said momentum is on the side of Juan Guaido, the National Assembly leader who proclaimed himself acting president.

"There are countless conversations going on between members of the National Assembly and members of the military in Venezuela, talking about what might come, how they might move to support the opposition," Bolton said in an interview on ABC's "This Week."

His comments came a day after thousands rallied in Caracas against the Maduro government amid a massive blackout that has left the capital and much of the country without power for four days.

Maduro supporters also rallied behind the embattled leftist president, who blamed "imperialism" for the country's problems and claimed the electrical grid was crippled by a "cyber attack."

Bolton said it was significant that the Maduro regime has refrained from arresting Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's acting president.

"One reason for that is Maduro fears if he gave that order, it would not be obeyed," he said.

Asked if he was certain Maduro was on his way out, Bolton said, "I'm not certain of anything, but I do think Guaido has the momentum."

US President Donald Trump's national security advisor said Sunday that members of Venezuela's military have been in conversation with National Assembly members about how they might move to support the opposition.

US President Donald Trump's national security advisor said Sunday that members of Venezuela's military have been in conversation with National Assembly members about how they might move to support the opposition. National Security Advisor John Bolton stopped short of predicting the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro but said momentum is on the side of Juan Guaido, the National Assembly leader who proclaimed himself acting president. "There are countless conversations going on between members of the National Assembly and members of the military in Venezuela, talking about what might come, how they might move to support the opposition," Bolton said in an interview on ABC's "This Week." His comments came a day after thousands rallied in Caracas against the Maduro government amid a massive blackout that has left the capital and much of the country without power for four days. Maduro supporters also rallied behind the embattled leftist president, who blamed "imperialism" for the country's problems and claimed the electrical grid was crippled by a "cyber attack." Bolton said it was significant that the Maduro regime has refrained from arresting Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's acting president. "One reason for that is Maduro fears if he gave that order, it would not be obeyed," he said. Asked if he was certain Maduro was on his way out, Bolton said, "I'm not certain of anything, but I do think Guaido has the momentum."

Venezuela military members in contact with opposition: Bolton

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-discussions-about-removing-him-treasonous-198179">US President Donald Trump</a> urged Venezuela's military Monday to accept opposition leader Juan Guaido's amnesty offer, or stand to "lose everything," as a crisis deepened over President Nicolas Maduro's refusal to let in desperately needed humanitarian aid.

Bringing in humanitarian aid is crucial to the viability of Guaido, who has denounced Maduro's re-election last year as fraudulent and in January declared himself interim president, a move recognized by some 50 countries.

He has given the Maduro government until Saturday to let the shipments into the country, which is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis due to shortages of food and medicine exacerbated by hyperinflation.

Addressing supporters and Venezuelan expatriates in Miami on Sunday, Trump declared he had a message for officials helping keep Maduro in place.

"The eyes of the entire world are upon you today, every day and every day in the future," he said.

"You cannot hide from the choice that now confronts you. You can choose to accept president Guaido's generous offer of amnesty to live your life in peace with your families and your countrymen.

"Or you can choose the second path: continuing to support Maduro. If you choose this path, you will find no safe harbour, no easy exit and no way out. You will lose everything."

Guaido has set a target of signing up to a million volunteers to help bring in the aid, with 600,000 already registered.

"On February 23, we have the opportunity to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans," he said on Sunday.

Opposition officials Sunday hit out at state internet provider CANTV for blocking the website where volunteers are signing up to help bring in the aid, mostly supplied by the United States but stockpiled in Colombia just over the border from Venezuela.

Committed to change&nbsp;

A second aid collection centre is due to begin operations in Brazil's northeastern state of Roraima, which borders Venezuela. But there is much uncertainty over the aid in Brazil, with officials there saying they have no information at this point.

Military officials in Roraima said they had yet to receive orders, although a collection centre could be set up quickly, with some businesses having already provided warehouses to that effect.

A third centre is due to open this week on the Dutch island of Curacao, off Venezuela's north coast.

Tensions mounted on Sunday after Guaido branded the government "irrational" for expelling five visiting European lawmakers.

The European Parliament members were being tossed out with no explanation, said Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who led a group including fellow Spaniards Jose Ignacio Salafranca and Gabriel Mato Adrover, as well as Esther de Lange of the Netherlands and Paulo Rangel of Portugal.

Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said the Europeans had "conspiratorial aims" and were sent back from the country's main Maiquetia airport.

The humanitarian aid standoff is due to come to a head this weekend when caravans of buses are set to carry volunteers to border entry points to meet and transport arriving cargo.

It is unclear how Guaido will overcome the border barriers put up by the Venezuelan military, on Maduro's orders.

Volunteer groups have begun meeting in "humanitarian camps" in several Venezuelan states to organize and prepare for the arrival of the aid to alleviate hardship from an imploding economy has driven an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans to migrate from the oil-rich country.&nbsp;

Maduro, who denies the existence of a humanitarian crisis, dismisses the opposition moves as a "political show" and a cover for a US invasion.

An 'international crime'&nbsp;

"Whoever prevents the entry of humanitarian aid is condemned to spend the rest of their lives fleeing international justice, because that is an international crime," US Senator Marco Rubio said as he toured the Colombian collection centre in Cucuta on Sunday.

Three US military cargo planes delivered several dozen tons of food assistance to Cucuta on Saturday. Another US aircraft is due in Curacao from Miami on Tuesday.

On Friday, Maduro instructed his army to prepare a "special deployment plan" for the 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border with Colombia.

Guaido has ordered the armed forces to let the aid pass, but they remain loyal to Maduro's regime.

Maduro has dismissed the humanitarian assistance as "crumbs" and "rotten and contaminated food," while blaming shortages of food and medicine on US sanctions.

In Maduro-friendly Cuba, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said he urged the more than 100 ambassadors and heads of mission serving on the communist island to reject "the US military's aggression of Venezuela" in a meeting.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump urged Venezuela's military Monday to accept opposition leader Juan Guaido's amnesty offer, or stand to "lose everything," as a crisis deepened over President Nicolas Maduro's refusal to let in desperately needed humanitarian aid.

US President Donald Trump urged Venezuela's military Monday to accept opposition leader Juan Guaido's amnesty offer, or stand to "lose everything," as a crisis deepened over President Nicolas Maduro's refusal to let in desperately needed humanitarian aid. Bringing in humanitarian aid is crucial to the viability of Guaido, who has denounced Maduro's re-election last year as fraudulent and in January declared himself interim president, a move recognized by some 50 countries. He has given the Maduro government until Saturday to let the shipments into the country, which is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis due to shortages of food and medicine exacerbated by hyperinflation. Addressing supporters and Venezuelan expatriates in Miami on Sunday, Trump declared he had a message for officials helping keep Maduro in place. "The eyes of the entire world are upon you today, every day and every day in the future," he said. "You cannot hide from the choice that now confronts you. You can choose to accept president Guaido's generous offer of amnesty to live your life in peace with your families and your countrymen. "Or you can choose the second path: continuing to support Maduro. If you choose this path, you will find no safe harbour, no easy exit and no way out. You will lose everything." Guaido has set a target of signing up to a million volunteers to help bring in the aid, with 600,000 already registered. "On February 23, we have the opportunity to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans," he said on Sunday. Opposition officials Sunday hit out at state internet provider CANTV for blocking the website where volunteers are signing up to help bring in the aid, mostly supplied by the United States but stockpiled in Colombia just over the border from Venezuela. Committed to change A second aid collection centre is due to begin operations in Brazil's northeastern state of Roraima, which borders Venezuela. But there is much uncertainty over the aid in Brazil, with officials there saying they have no information at this point. Military officials in Roraima said they had yet to receive orders, although a collection centre could be set up quickly, with some businesses having already provided warehouses to that effect. A third centre is due to open this week on the Dutch island of Curacao, off Venezuela's north coast. Tensions mounted on Sunday after Guaido branded the government "irrational" for expelling five visiting European lawmakers. The European Parliament members were being tossed out with no explanation, said Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who led a group including fellow Spaniards Jose Ignacio Salafranca and Gabriel Mato Adrover, as well as Esther de Lange of the Netherlands and Paulo Rangel of Portugal. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said the Europeans had "conspiratorial aims" and were sent back from the country's main Maiquetia airport. The humanitarian aid standoff is due to come to a head this weekend when caravans of buses are set to carry volunteers to border entry points to meet and transport arriving cargo. It is unclear how Guaido will overcome the border barriers put up by the Venezuelan military, on Maduro's orders. Volunteer groups have begun meeting in "humanitarian camps" in several Venezuelan states to organize and prepare for the arrival of the aid to alleviate hardship from an imploding economy has driven an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans to migrate from the oil-rich country. Maduro, who denies the existence of a humanitarian crisis, dismisses the opposition moves as a "political show" and a cover for a US invasion. An 'international crime' "Whoever prevents the entry of humanitarian aid is condemned to spend the rest of their lives fleeing international justice, because that is an international crime," US Senator Marco Rubio said as he toured the Colombian collection centre in Cucuta on Sunday. Three US military cargo planes delivered several dozen tons of food assistance to Cucuta on Saturday. Another US aircraft is due in Curacao from Miami on Tuesday. On Friday, Maduro instructed his army to prepare a "special deployment plan" for the 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border with Colombia. Guaido has ordered the armed forces to let the aid pass, but they remain loyal to Maduro's regime. Maduro has dismissed the humanitarian assistance as "crumbs" and "rotten and contaminated food," while blaming shortages of food and medicine on US sanctions. In Maduro-friendly Cuba, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said he urged the more than 100 ambassadors and heads of mission serving on the communist island to reject "the US military's aggression of Venezuela" in a meeting.

Trump tells Venezuela military to back opposition leader Guaido or 'lose everything'

Venezuelan soldiers are increasingly weary of the popular backlash against their role in quelling anti-government protests and all eyes are on the military to see if it will remain loyal to President Nicolas Maduro.

Nearly five months of demonstrations failed to stop Maduro carrying out a weekend vote for a Constitutional Assembly that opponents say will cement his dictatorship in the OPEC nation.

The opposition is now looking towards the military to see if it will turn against the government and pressure Maduro to enact its demands, which include presidential elections.

More than 120 people have been killed in the protests, drawing international condemnation of the security forces&#39; heavy-handed tactics.

In an unofficial referendum last month, the opposition asked Venezuelans whether the military should defend the current Constitution and the National Assembly, which is expected to be dissolved by the Constitutional Assembly, in an apparent attempt to exert public pressure on the armed forces.

There are signs of fatigue and division among troops who face constant street confrontations that frequently include volleys of rocks, Molotov cocktails, and even human excrement. Soldiers chafe under the negative public opinion of the security forces caused by the crackdown.

&quot;If we do not defend the regime, we are traitors and our careers are ruined. If we defend the government, we become enemies of the people,&quot; said a 40-year-old army sergeant major in the border city of San Cristobal with 18 years of service under his belt, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisal.

Protests appear poised to intensify after 10 people were killed in the weekend vote for the new legislative super body expected to give the ruling Socialist Party sweeping powers.

&#39;Contempt of the population&#39;

Like many others in the once prosperous South American country, members of the security forces struggle to eat properly because they earn just a few dollars a month, which is barely enough for a week&#39;s food.

Splits within the armed forces have been made evident since protests began with the detention of 123 members, including high-ranking officers, on charges ranging from treason and rebellion to theft and desertion.

&quot;In the past, a soldier was respected but now, after this period of degeneration, a soldier gets the contempt of the whole population,&quot; said a 33-year-old Air Force major, also asking his name not be revealed for fear of reprisal.

At least publicly, military leaders such as Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino remain firmly behind Maduro, appearing alongside him at near-daily political events and military parades.

The military has played a key role in government since former socialist leader Hugo Chavez, himself a former military officer, swept to power in 1999 promising to bring greater equality to the economy of the oil rich nation.

Top government posts ranging from ministerial positions to directors of state oil company PDVSA are held by former military officers, many of whom participated in a failed 1992 coup that made Chavez famous and fuelled his meteoric rise to power.

Chavez purged the armed forces of dissidents following a 2002 coup that briefly toppled him.

But it is nonetheless difficult to measure military loyalty to Maduro, and predictions of military rebellions or imminent coups have repeatedly turned out to be false.

The Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Maduro critics say the government&#39;s count in the constituent assembly vote was rigged and the final turnout exaggerated three fold.

Soldiers were in charge of voting stations and the election raised doubts among them about their role defending Maduro, according to Herbert Garcia, a former senior army general, and minister.

&quot;There is more division after Sunday. They saw it all,&quot; said Garcia, who broke away from Maduro&#39;s government in 2015 though maintains contact with some former colleagues.

There are signs of fatigue and division among troops who face constant street confrontations that frequently include volleys of rocks, Molotov cocktails, and even human excrement

Venezuelan soldiers are increasingly weary of the popular backlash against their role in quelling anti-government protests and all eyes are on the military to see if it will remain loyal to President Nicolas Maduro. Nearly five months of demonstrations failed to stop Maduro carrying out a weekend vote for a Constitutional Assembly that opponents say will cement his dictatorship in the OPEC nation. The opposition is now looking towards the military to see if it will turn against the government and pressure Maduro to enact its demands, which include presidential elections. More than 120 people have been killed in the protests, drawing international condemnation of the security forces' heavy-handed tactics. In an unofficial referendum last month, the opposition asked Venezuelans whether the military should defend the current Constitution and the National Assembly, which is expected to be dissolved by the Constitutional Assembly, in an apparent attempt to exert public pressure on the armed forces. There are signs of fatigue and division among troops who face constant street confrontations that frequently include volleys of rocks, Molotov cocktails, and even human excrement. Soldiers chafe under the negative public opinion of the security forces caused by the crackdown. "If we do not defend the regime, we are traitors and our careers are ruined. If we defend the government, we become enemies of the people," said a 40-year-old army sergeant major in the border city of San Cristobal with 18 years of service under his belt, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisal. Protests appear poised to intensify after 10 people were killed in the weekend vote for the new legislative super body expected to give the ruling Socialist Party sweeping powers. 'Contempt of the population' Like many others in the once prosperous South American country, members of the security forces struggle to eat properly because they earn just a few dollars a month, which is barely enough for a week's food. Splits within the armed forces have been made evident since protests began with the detention of 123 members, including high-ranking officers, on charges ranging from treason and rebellion to theft and desertion. "In the past, a soldier was respected but now, after this period of degeneration, a soldier gets the contempt of the whole population," said a 33-year-old Air Force major, also asking his name not be revealed for fear of reprisal. At least publicly, military leaders such as Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino remain firmly behind Maduro, appearing alongside him at near-daily political events and military parades. The military has played a key role in government since former socialist leader Hugo Chavez, himself a former military officer, swept to power in 1999 promising to bring greater equality to the economy of the oil rich nation. Top government posts ranging from ministerial positions to directors of state oil company PDVSA are held by former military officers, many of whom participated in a failed 1992 coup that made Chavez famous and fuelled his meteoric rise to power. Chavez purged the armed forces of dissidents following a 2002 coup that briefly toppled him. But it is nonetheless difficult to measure military loyalty to Maduro, and predictions of military rebellions or imminent coups have repeatedly turned out to be false. The Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Maduro critics say the government's count in the constituent assembly vote was rigged and the final turnout exaggerated three fold. Soldiers were in charge of voting stations and the election raised doubts among them about their role defending Maduro, according to Herbert Garcia, a former senior army general, and minister. "There is more division after Sunday. They saw it all," said Garcia, who broke away from Maduro's government in 2015 though maintains contact with some former colleagues.

All eyes on Venezuela military after protests, vote

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President Maduro tells military to be ready for potential US military action

Guaido says Maduro paid Russia with gold for military presence

Venezuela military members in contact with opposition: Bolton

Trump tells Venezuela military to back opposition leader Guaido or 'lose everything'

All eyes on Venezuela military after protests, vote