CARACAS 1 Apr (ANA) - Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has acknowledged that there can only be a change of government with the support of the armed forces.

 

Military chiefs have so far remained loyal to President Nicolás Maduro.

 

Mr Guaidó declared himself interim leader in January and says he is supported by "almost 90%" of Venezuelans. He also has US backing.

 

On Sunday Venezuelan authorities said they would shorten the working day and keep schools closed due to power cuts.

 

Offices would stop working at 14:00 local time "to achieve consistency in the provision of electricity", Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on state TV.

 

Mr Guaidó told the BBC that the frequent power cuts and water shortages - which have hit hospitals, public transport, water and other services - were driving intense public anger against Mr Maduro's government.

 

"We have a situation now with protests in more than 20 districts of the capital, Caracas, and in all Venezuelan states. People are demanding that power and water supplies be restored, but also for the usurper, Nicolás Maduro, to go, which is the main message," he said.

 

The government has claimed the blackouts are the result of sabotage in an effort to force Mr Maduro from office.

 

However, Mr Guaidó said Mr Maduro could not be removed unless Venezuela's military abandoned him.

 

"The support and the backing of the armed forces will be necessary in order to achieve democratic and peaceful change in Venezuela in all areas, including to protect protesters from the pro-government armed militias," he said.

 

Mr Guaidó - who the government says will be barred from holding further public office for 15 years - dismissed the recent reported arrival of Russian troops in Venezuela as a "provocation" by Mr Maduro to "try to show some sort of support that he really doesn't have".

 

"The Russians haven't made any concrete moves. They haven't shown any real support apart from, perhaps, some diplomatic statements," he said.

 

On Saturday the Red Cross (IFRC) said it could begin distributing aid to Venezuela in two weeks. IFRC head Francesco Rocca said the group could initially help 650,000 suffering from shortages of food and medicine.

 

In February, the government blocked the delivery of US-backed aid convoys, calling them a veiled US invasion.(ANA)

FA/ANA/1 April 2019-------