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| Celedonia Angulo sits next to her nebuliser in her house during a blackout in Catia slum in Caracas, Venezuela March 8, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap |
Thousands of Venezuelans are expected to protest once again Saturday as opposition leader Juan Guaido cranks up the pressure on beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro, in the midst of a sweeping electricity blackout that has crippled the crisis-wracked country.
Both Guaido and Maduro, who are locked in a bitter power struggle for the right to lead the oil-rich South American nation, have asked their supporters to fill the streets of Caracas and other cities.
"Tomorrow, I call on the Venezuelan people to make a huge statement in the streets against the usurping, corrupt and incapable regime that has plunged our country into darkness," Guaido wrote on Twitter.
"We return to the streets and we won't leave until we achieve the goal," said the 35-year-old National Assembly leader, who is recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's interim president.
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| People queue outside a pharmacy to try to buy goods during a blackout in Caracas, Venezuela March 8, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap |
Guaido is trying to force out Maduro ― whose re-election in May he deems illegitimate ― in order to set up new elections.
Maduro has meanwhile asked his backers to march on Saturday against "imperialism."
The mounting political pressure comes after one of the worst and longest blackouts in recent memory in Venezuela. It began on Thursday afternoon, paralyzing much of the country.
Power was gradually being restored to large areas of Caracas on Friday afternoon, as well as parts of Miranda state and Vargas, which contains the country's international airport and main port.
But the relief was short-lived as the lights went off again, extending the blackout beyond 24 hours.
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| Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared acting President Juan Guaidospeaks next to his wife Fabiana handed Rosales during a rally on the International Women's Day in Caracas on March 8, 2019. AFP-Yonhap |
As night fell, people banging saucepans could be heard around the capital: a form of popular protest often seen in South America.
Maduro has blamed the blackout on US sabotage and shut down offices and schools, Friday.
Large lines formed at the few gas stations open as people fetched fuel for generators. Some took gas from their cars.
The power "came for one moment and went away again," Antonio Belisario, who had been waiting around an hour for petrol, told AFP. (AFP)
