Venezuela's Maduro tells armed forces to be 'ready' in case of US attack
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro
A day afterNicolas Maduroexhibited ashow of unity with military figuresin a television broadcast, theVenezuelan President on Saturday called on the armed forces to be "ready" in the event of a US military offensive against the South American country.
Addressing a speech to troops, Maduro told the military "to be ready to defend the homeland with weapons in yourhands if one day the US empire dares to touch this territory, this sacred earth."
His speech at a military base came days afteropposition leader Juan Guaido rallied his supporters in a new day of protests to press the armed forces to support his bid to dislodge Maduro.
Maduro's show of unity in a television broadcast aimed at rejectingclaims by the United States and the opposition that the armed forces high command was prepared to turn on him.
Venezuelans on Wednesday heeded a call fromGuaidoto take to thestreetsin a bid to force Maduro from power, but there was little concrete sign of change in a crisis.
Guaido, the head of the opposition-run National Assembly, is recognised as Venezuela's legitimate head of state by the United States, the European Union and others, while Maduro is backed by countries including Russia, China and Cuba.
(With inputs from agencies)