Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday renewed his accusation against his Colombian counterpart, blaming him for what Caracas has called a drone “assassination” attempt on the Socialist leader over the weekend.

 In a video posted on Twitter shortly before midnight, the 55-year-old said police and the military had captured some of the conspirators and were now hunting the masterminds.

 “There is sufficient evidence of the participation of the outgoing Colombian government of president Juan Manuel Santos,” he added, promising to release proof “in the next few hours.”

 The allegation has worsened already fraught ties between Caracas and Bogota. Santos, who handed over power to elected successor Ivan Duque on Tuesday, has categorically denied it.

 A live broadcast of Saturday’s incident on Venezuelan state television showed Maduro interrupted in mid-speech by an explosion and looking up in confusion.

 Dozens of soldiers on parade are then seen breaking ranks and running away in panic.

 Maduro and his government said the president had been targeted by two flying drones carrying explosives. But details of the incident remain unclear, with conflicting information coming from various sources.

 The Maduro administration said Colombia had collaborated on the attack with the “ultra far-right” Venezuelan opposition, and it was financed by unnamed figures in the US state of Florida. No evidence was given to support the allegations. Thousands of exiled Venezuelans live in Colombia and in Florida.

 Maduro had been expected to address his supporters — most of them workers — who marched through Caracas in what would have been his first public appearance since Saturday’s incident. But he failed to show. The communications ministry did not explain his absence. — AFP </s> The attempt to assassinate Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, has failed. This news is days-old. But, the facts are reiterated boldly. And, there are a few questions, and a few answers to some “progressives” now in close collaboration with imperialism.

The assassination attempt was made while Maduro was addressing the nation on live TV during a military celebration in Caracas. Seven National Guard members were injured in the attempt.

It was the 81st-anniversary parade of the National Guard on August 4, 2018.

Explosive loaded drones were used in the assassination attempt. However, snipers shot down the killer-drones.

“They have tried to kill me today, and everything points towards the right wing forces, the Venezuela ultra-right in alliance with the Colombian ultra-right, and the name of Juan Manuel Santos is behind this assassination attempt.”

Santos is the out-going president of Colombian.

“[F]irst elements of the investigation point towards Bogota.”

However, in a statement, the Colombian foreign ministry described Maduro’s indication as “absurd” and “baseless.”

Santos claimed in an innocent tone that he was fully focused on his granddaughter’s baptism on the day of the murder-attempt.

It sounds like someone has to fly with an explosive-filled drone if the person plans to make an attack.

But, it should be mentioned that Santos recently suggested in public statements: Maduro’s mandate is close to coming to an end.

Santos said as recently as on July 30: “I hope it is tomorrow even. Colombia would be willing and ready to help in any way possible.”

Maduro also indicated the assassination attempt had been financed from Miami.

The US authorities quickly tried to get far away from the assassination attempt. John Bolton, the White House security advisor, said: “Without a doubt there wasn’t any participation from the US government in the absolute.”

Security measures following the murder attempt arrested a few persons including two participants in the 2014 anti-government street violence in Venezuela. The two street-violence participants also have a criminal record.

Countries, in continents, including Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, India, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Spain, Syria, Turkey, Uruguay, Vietnam condemned the assassination attempt, and expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan leader. A number of Caribbean island-countries, regional bloc ALBA, International bodies such as the Union of South American Nations, Community of Latin American and Caribbean Nations, and the World Peace Council also repudiated the attack. The Communist Party of Argentina, the FARC in Colombia, Al Fatah, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Vanguard and New Nation Parties in Costa Rica, the Guasu Front in Paraguay, the New Movement Party and the Broad Front in Peru, and many other political and social organizations in regions and countries denounced the assassination attempt. Maduro-allies including the Communist Party of Venezuela and Homeland for All Party (PPT), and grassroots organizations in Venezuela and in many other countries took similar stand on the assassination attempt.

Diego Maradona, the football legend, tweeted: “an attack on the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution is an attack on the people of Venezuela.”

However, the rightist opposition groups in Venezuela played down the assassination attempt while the ultra-rightists regretted with the failure.

The First Justice party (PJ) indicated: Similar attack may happen again: “It would be a grave error to presume […] that the events of yesterday won’t be repeated in the same, or a worse, way”.

A few of the rightists claimed: The incident was fabricated.

Opposition hardliner Maria Corina Machado said: “Maduro will only be got rid of […] by force.”

In countries, political, claiming to be civil and rights organizations with ties to imperialism kept their silence intact. They failed to denounce the assassination attempt although international agreements define assassination of a head of state as “terrorist act”.

A few from the imperialist media also presented a story with an interrogative tone: “Was the attempt staged by Maduro?”

So, one finds: imperialist media and rightists are in the same wave length.

On the other hand, “Soldiers in T-Shirts”, an anti-government group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, code named “Operation Fenix”. Factors of Power, a Miami-based private news network, presented the statement.

The statement echoed demands being made by the right-wing politicians that include abide by the rightist-packed National Assembly and go for “true and free” elections.

It called on “everyone to take to the streets”, to “take power,” and install a “transition government.”

The statement claims that the assassination attempt tried to “restore constitutional order.”

Patricia Poleo, a Miami-based journalist and a critic of the Venezuela government, read the public statement issued by the claimants of the attempt.

Patricia is accused of being involved in the assassination of anti-corruption police investigator Danilo Anderson in 2004.

One of the tweets made by the “T-Shirts” said:

“The operation was to fly two drones carrying C4 explosive to the presidential platform”, but the drones were downed “before [these reached] their objective. We showed that [the government is] vulnerable, today we didn’t achieve it but it’s only a question of time.”

Twitter account of the “T-Shirt” claims that it’s a combination of “military and civilian patriots”, and “rebels.”

The questions are: Why the attempt to assassinate Maduro was made? Why further threats are made: “More such attempts will follow”? Why the rightists find Maduro as their enemy?

There was attempt to assassinate Rafael Correa in 2010, the then president of Ecuador. The list of the assassinated anti-imperialist political leaders is very long.

The questions are: Who are assassinated? Why are they assassinated?

It’s not that all assassinated political leaders were anti-imperialist. But, many anti-imperialists have been assassinated.

For years, imperialism has targeted leaders standing against imperialism. Leaders choosing the path of self-reliance have been targeted by imperialism. Leaders moving away from imperialist orbit have also been targeted. Imperialism also targeted its former allies and lackeys.

A few of them have been overthrown through coup d’états. A few were blown out in airplanes. A few faced mysterious deaths. The recent tact is “democracy movement”.

Assassination attempts are made when imperialism fails to find scope for regime change through fabricated political “movements”, which appear democratic, but, in its core, is faithful to imperialism. Attempts to physically eliminate political leaders are made when imperialism finds machinated crisis of different types are failing to unseat its enemy. Imperialism resorts to killings when it finds it’s difficult to mobilize social and political forces required to overthrow the political leadership it considers its enemy.

In these attempts to assassinate, organize “political movements”, initiate machinated crises, imperialism has to rely on its local allies – lackeys. These allies range from political parties to unions to so-called civil society to disgruntled elements within the targeted government to so-called rights, for-the-poor, cooperative, cultural, youth, etc. organizations. It’s a mobilization of social and political forces faithful to the external master.

In Venezuela, the rightists are finding it difficult to succeed with their political fight. They are failing to mobilize other social forces. They are failing to use discontent whatever is there, and aspirations. The situation leads them to the terrorist activity – assassinate Maduro. So, the assassination attempt is an indication of the rightists’ failure in political fight, is an indication of its cornered position.

However, the position may change as politics and political position are not static in any society. This depends upon handling of contradictions, management of economy, struggles in the sphere of politics, keeping alliance alive. It’ll be a pure childish imagination, and a reflection of having no idea about politics if anyone expects that all the moves and measures at all the times will be absolutely error-free in Venezuela. In no society, it’s possible to move through an absolute error-free path of political and ideological struggle.

There are “progressives”, “lefts”, “adherents” of Marx and Lenin in countries, who claim Chavez “didn’t” follow, and Maduro “isn’t” following the correct path to socialism, their anti-imperialism is “pseudo”.

These “progressives”, etc. forget to admit that imperialism isn’t making assault on this brand of proper “progressives”, etc. Imperialism is making assault on this Chavez-Maduro duo. Then, according to these “progressives”, etc., it comes out that imperialism is behaving “fool” as the duo “isn’t” for progress.

This flock of “progressives”, etc. has forgotten the observation Mao made in 1939:

“I hold that it is bad as far as we are concerned if a person, a political party, an army or a school is not attacked by the enemy, for in that case it would definitely mean that we have sunk to the level of the enemy. It is good if we are attacked by the enemy, since it proves that we have drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves. It is still better if the enemy attacks us wildly and paints us as utterly black and without a single virtue; it demonstrates that we have not only drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves but achieved a great deal in our work.”

These “progressives”, etc. are bigger and larger revolutionaries than Mao. So, they don’t listen to Mao, turn ultra-left overnight, and proudly extend their hands of collaboration to imperialism and its lackeys.

These “progressives”, etc. very often or regularly take the path, which has been charted by imperialism. In countries in regions including South Asia, these “progressives”, neo-“progressives”, etc. will stand with the rightist forces; oppose errors, corruption, economic difficulties in the way imperialism gets benefit; cordially be-friend extreme rightists, and get active with imperialism-designed democracy. But, they will never look at the question: Why attempt to assassinate Maduro is made and why these “progressives”, etc. are being spared? </s> CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Nicolas Maduro went on television Tuesday night to accuse one of Venezuela's most prominent opposition leaders of being linked to a weekend assassination attempt using drones.

Maduro said statements by several of the six suspects already arrested pointed to involvement by Julio Borges, an opposition leader living in exile in Colombia.

"Several of the declarations indicated Julio Borges. The investigations point to him," Maduro said, though he provided no details on Borges' alleged role.

Critics of Maduro's socialist government had said immediately following Saturday evening's attack that they feared the unpopular leader would use the incident as an excuse to round up opposition politicians amid widespread unrest over Venezuela's devastating economic collapse.

In the attack, two drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro as he spoke outdoors during a military celebration. Images on live television showed Maduro and his wife looking up at the sky at one blast and then hundreds of soldiers scrambling.

Prosecutors have arrested six people who face charges of treason, attempted murder and terrorism.

The president also named opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens, seen in a video widely circulating on social media being arrested by Venezuela's political police force.

As elected lawmakers, Borges and Requesens enjoy immunity from prosecution under Venezuelan law. But Diosdado Cabello, the powerful socialist party leader and president of the National Constitutional Assembly, said in a tweet Tuesday that he plans to introduce legislation stripping lawmakers of this protection.

Maduro spoke for two hours from the Miraflores Presidential Palace in a presentation using polished videos showing suspects and images of the drones exploding.

He held up military hats worn by soldiers with holes in them from debris the explosion. Several soldiers seated in the audience had white bandages on their heads, apparently injured in the assassination attempt.

Maduro said he will provide the evidence to officials in the United States and Colombia and ask for their cooperation handing over suspects who helped orchestrate and finance the attack.

"I want to explain to the government of the United States and the government of Colombia in detail all the evidence that leads us to accomplices and direct responsible living in the state of Florida," Maduro said. "I trust in the good faith of Donald Trump."

In this photo provided by the Miraflores Presidential Palace, President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a event marking the 81st anniversary of the National Guard, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, August 4, 2019. Venezuela's government says several explosions heard at a military event were an attempted attack on President Maduro. Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said in a live broadcast that several drone-like devices with explosives detonated near the president. He said Maduro is safe and unharmed but that seven people were injured. (Miraflores Presidential Palace via AP) </s> Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday he escaped an "assassination" attempt using an explosive-laden drone, after a live broadcast showed him looking confused when a bang went off during a Caracas military parade and dozens of soldiers scuttling for safety.

His government said seven soldiers were wounded in the incident.

"It was an attack to kill me, they tried to assassinate me today," Maduro said in a later state broadcast, speaking of a "flying object (that) exploded in front of me."

He said some of those involved were arrested and an investigation under way.

Maduro accused neighboring Colombia and unidentified "financiers" in the United States, while some of his officials blamed Venezuela's opposition.

Colombia denied any involvement. A senior Colombian official speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said Maduro's accusation was "baseless."

Venezuelan state television images showed Maduro looking up disconcertedly in the middle of a speech Saturday when a bang was heard, then uniformed members of the country's National Guard lined up in the parade suddenly breaking ranks and scattering.

No drones could be seen in the television broadcast, which showed bodyguards jumping in front of Maduro to protect him with flexible ballistic shields. The broadcast was quickly cut.

"This is an attack against President Nicolas Maduro," Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said there was "an explosive charge... detonated close to the presidential podium" and in several other spots along the parade held in central Caracas.

Maduro "came out of it completely unharmed," he said.

The government pointed the finger at "the ultra-right wing" -- its term for the opposition.

But Maduro said: "I have no doubt that the name (Colombian President) Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack."

He added that initial investigations "indicate that various of those financing it live in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hope that President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups."

The parade Maduro attended was to mark the one-year anniversary of the Constitutional Assembly, a legislative body packed with Maduro loyalists that arrogated powers from the opposition-ruled National Assembly.

The head of the assembly, Diosdado Cabello, tweeted that Maduro and the assembled military chiefs had survived a "terrorist attack" he blamed on the opposition.

"The right insists on violence to take areas it can't through votes," he wrote.

Maduro has remained in power over Venezuela, a major oil exporting nation, despite a collapsing economy and a long-running political crisis that has seen his country isolated internationally.

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have fled the country, where food and medicine are in very short supply, and where inflation this year could reach as high as one million percent according to the International Monetary Fund.

Maduro, a 55-year-old Socialist leader who took over from his late mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013, has effectively sidelined the fractured opposition through control of the courts and the electoral body -- and undinting support from the military, which holds key posts in his government.

Maduro often accuses the opposition and the United States of working together to foment a "coup" to topple him.

He says the economic malaise gripping Venezuela is an "economic war" and any unrest is plotted by foreign powers.

A year ago, four months of street protests flared against his authority that were put down by robust action from the army, the National Guard and police, resulting in 125 people killed.

One of the key reasons for the protests was the creation of the Constitutional Assembly, which aimed to short-circuit the National Assembly in which the opposition won a supermajority in 2015 elections.

Last year, the president said the new body replaced the elected legislature.

The Supreme Court declared the National Assembly dissolved. Although it continues to operate, its decisions are routinely annulled.

The United States and other countries have expressed alarm at the loyalist structure propping up Maduro, saying Venezuelan democracy was being undermined.

Maduro this year brought forward to May presidential elections that -- after they were boycotted by the opposition and key opposition figures were declared ineligible -- handed him a new six-year term. </s> Maduro opponents warn of crackdown after blast in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Opposition leaders in Venezuela warn that the government might use an apparent assassination attempt against President Nicolas Maduro as an excuse to crack down on those who legitimately oppose his policies.

Maduro was delivering a televised speech Saturday evening to hundreds of soldiers when he and his wife, Cilia Flores, looked up at the sky and winced after hearing the sound of an explosion.

Nearby residents said Sunday they saw a drone crash into a building and explode about two blocks away from where Maduro was speaking.

"This was an attempt to kill me," he said later in an impassioned retelling of the event. "Today, they attempted to assassinate me."

Maduro said the "far right" working in coordination with detractors in Bogota and Miami, including Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, were responsible. Some of the "material authors" of the apparent attack have been detained, he said.

"The investigation will get to the bottom of this," he said, "no matter who falls."

A Colombian official with the president's office described Maduro's accusation that Santos was involved as baseless.

The Broad Front opposition alliance issued a statement accusing the government or leaping to the assumption the explosions were an assassination attempt and of making "irresponsible" accusations without any proof.

"We warn that this confused event could be used as an excuse to repress the constitutional rights of the people to continue protesting for the defense of their rights," the statement said late Saturday.

Venezuela's government routinely accuses opposition activists of plotting to attack and overthrow Maduro, a deeply unpopular leader who was recently elected to a new term in office in a vote decried by dozens of nations. Maduro has steadily moved to concentrate power as the nation reels from a crippling economic crisis.

Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the incident took place shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday as Maduro was celebrating the National Guard's 81st anniversary. The visibly shaken head of state said he saw a "flying device" that exploded before his eyes. He thought it might be a pyrotechnics display in honor of the event.

Within seconds, Maduro said he heard a second explosion and pandemonium broke out. Bodyguards escorted Maduro from the event and TV footage showed uniformed soldiers in formation quickly scattering from the scene.

Witnesses interviewed Sunday by The Associated Press confirmed seeing at least one drone that appeared to be linked to an explosion.

One showed a cellphone video of a drone hovering over a residential street two blocks away and then crashing into a building. While the video doesn't show an explosion, the witness said it fell and then exploded, starting a fire in the building.

Police arrested the drone pilot, the witness said. Crime scene investigators combed the building for evidence.

Another resident apparently saw the same drone. Mairum Gonzalez said she heard a thundering explosion and ran in terror to her fifth-floor balcony.

"It was so strong the building shook," she said. "I said 'Oh, my God, what happened?' It terrified me."

Gonzalez said she next saw a drone hit the same building mentioned by the other witness and then fall. Moments later, she heard a second blast and saw black smoke. People screamed as they ran in the street below, she said.

An earlier account by firefighters at the scene of the blast hand linked the explosion to a gas leak.

U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton told "Fox News Sunday" that he can state "unequivocally" that "there was no U.S. government involvement in this at all."

At one point Saturday, Maduro asked Trump to arrest the "terrorists."

Apparently in response, Bolton said, "If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of U.S. criminal law, we'll take a serious look at it."

In the midst of near-daily protests last year, a rogue police officer flew a stolen helicopter over the capital and launched grenades at several government buildings. Oscar Perez was later killed in a deadly gun battle after over six months on the lam.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab said the attempted assassination targeted not only Maduro, but the military's entire high command on stage with the president.

Prosecutors have already launched their investigation and obtained critical details from the suspects in custody, said Saab, adding that he would give more details Monday.

"We are in the midst of a wave of civil war in Venezuela," Saab said.

Adding to the confusion, a little known group calling itself Soldiers in T-shirts claimed responsibility, saying it planned to fly two drones loaded with explosives at the president, but government soldiers shot them down before reaching its target. The AP could not independently verify the authenticity of the message.

"We showed that they are vulnerable," the group said in a tweet. "It was not successful today, but it is just a matter of time."

The organization did not respond to a message from the AP.

David Smilde, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America who has spent decades researching Venezuela, said the incident did not appear to be a staged attack by Maduro's government for political gain.

The "amateurish" attack prompted embarrassing images of Maduro cut off midsentence with droves of soldiers running away in fear, making the president appear vulnerable, Smilde noted. Despite the optics, Smilde said he suspected that Maduro would nonetheless find a way to take advantage of it.

"He will use it to concentrate power," Smilde said. "Whoever did this, he'll use it to further restrict liberty and purge the government and armed forces."

The event had been just one more of many Maduro routinely holds with members of the military, a key faction of Venezuelan society whose loyalty he has clung to as the nation struggles with crippling hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.

"We are going to bet for the good of our country," Maduro declared triumphantly moments before the explosion. "The hour of the economy recovery has come."

Images on social media showed officers surrounding Maduro with what appeared to be a black bulletproof shields as they escorted him from the site. Maduro said at no point did he panic, confident the military would protect him.

"That drone came after me," he said. "But there was a shield of love that always protects us. I'm sure I'll live for many more years."

Armario reported from Miami, Florida. AP video journalist Clbyburn Saint John contributed to this report. </s> BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th August, 2019) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe Velez had planned to hire mercenaries to assassinate him.

The failed assassination of Maduro took place in early August 2018 during a military parade in the Venezuelan capital. The president was left unharmed while seven security officers were injured in the incident. Back then, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry also mentioned former Venezuelan Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega Diaz, Colombia's former President, Juan Manuel Santos, and one of the Venezuelan opposition leaders, Julio Borges, among those behind the attempt to assassinate Maduro, alongside Uribe.

"I have learned about a plan coordinated by Alvaro Uribe Velez involving Colombian Ambassador to the United States Francisco Santo ... to send 32 mercenaries to Venezuela to try to kill me," Maduro said in a speech, aired live on his Twitter late on Wednesday.

Maduro has repeatedly claimed that the United States instructed Colombia to organize his assassination, something denied by both Bogota and Washington. </s> (CARACAS) — President Nicolas Maduro went on television Tuesday night to accuse one of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition leaders of being linked to a weekend assassination attempt using drones.

Maduro said statements by several of the six suspects already arrested pointed to involvement by Julio Borges, an opposition leader living in exile in Colombia.

“Several of the declarations indicated Julio Borges. The investigations point to him,” Maduro said, though he provided no details on Borges’ alleged role.

Critics of Maduro’s socialist government had said immediately following Saturday evening’s attack that they feared the unpopular leader would use the incident as an excuse to round up opposition politicians amid widespread unrest over Venezuela’s devastating economic collapse.

In the attack, two drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro as he spoke outdoors during a military celebration. Images on live television showed Maduro and his wife looking up at the sky at one blast and then hundreds of soldiers scrambling.

Prosecutors have arrested six people who face charges of treason, attempted murder and terrorism.

The president also named opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens, seen in a video widely circulating on social media being arrested by Venezuela’s political police force.

As elected lawmakers, Borges and Requesens enjoy immunity from prosecution under Venezuelan law. But Diosdado Cabello, the powerful socialist party leader and president of the National Constitutional Assembly, said in a tweet Tuesday that he plans to introduce legislation stripping lawmakers of this protection.

Maduro spoke for two hours from the Miraflores Presidential Palace in a presentation using polished videos showing suspects and images of the drones exploding.

He held up military hats worn by soldiers with holes in them from debris the explosion. Several soldiers seated in the audience had white bandages on their heads, apparently injured in the assassination attempt.

Maduro said he will provide the evidence to officials in the United States and Colombia and ask for their cooperation handing over suspects who helped orchestrate and finance the attack.

“I want to explain to the government of the United States and the government of Colombia in detail all the evidence that leads us to accomplices and direct responsible living in the state of Florida,” Maduro said. “I trust in the good faith of Donald Trump.” </s> Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro said he survived an assassination attempt involving explosive-laden drones and blamed the United States and Colombia for the alleged attack.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton Sunday denied any U.S. role in the incident.

In a televised speech late Saturday, Maduro said "everything points" to a right-wing plot he claims originated in neighboring Colombia. He said God, the people and the country's armed forces saved him from being killed.

"That drone was coming for me but there was a shield of love," Maduro said. "I am sure I will live for many more years."

He added that he has "no doubt that the name [Colombian President] Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack." The French news agency (AFP) quotes a source in the Colombian government as saying the charge against President Santos are "without foundation."

Maduro said initial investigations "indicate that various of those financing it live in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hope that President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups."

The Venezuelan leader said several perpetrators were caught, but he did not provide further details.

While Maduro was speaking about Venezuela's economy at the event, television images showed Maduro and others looking startled after the sound of multiple explosions could be heard. A moment later, the video showed soldiers breaking ranks and scurrying for cover.

Venezuela has been in turmoil for several years. Once one of Latin America's wealthiest countries, years of poor governing and failed social policies have eroded the nation's stability resulting in social strife and runaway inflation.

Maduro was elected in May to a new six-year term in a result widely denounced by the opposition and international observers as illegitimate and rife with irregularities. </s> Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, speaking shortly after an attempted attack during his Saturday public address, has said some of the perpetrators have already been captured.

Maduro, without any sign of injury, delivered a televised address about two hours after his public speech at a military event was interrupted by loud explosions. Venezuelan officials said explosive drones were detonated near the president in a failed assassination attempt.

Describing the incident, Maduro said a flying object exploded in front of him.

“I thought it was a pyrotechnic fire, in a matter of micro seconds there was a second explosion to my right. You could see people running because they felt the shockwave,” he said.

An investigation into the incident has been launched and some of the suspected perpetrators apprehended, according to Maduro. The president accused far-right opposition and external actors.

“I have no doubt that everything points to the Venezuelan ultra-right in alliance with the Colombian extreme right, and the name of [Colombian President] Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack,” he said.

Relations have been tense between Caracas and Bogota in recent years, with the Venezuelan leader earlier describing Colombia as “lackey” of the US. Colombia’s Santos did say in an in interview with AFP this week that the days of Maduro in charge of Venezuela were numbered.

“If you put the two together, you get a drone attack against the President of Venezuela,” Dr. Francisco Dominguez, a senior lecturer at Middlesex University, told RT.

President Maduro also claimed that the first results of the investigation of the attack showed that several of those, who paid for the attack reside in Florida, US.

READ MORE: Caracas explosions were household gas, not drones sent to kill Maduro, AP sources claim

All the attempts to topple the authorities in Caracas “started in Colombia, but were also organized and orchestrated by the elements in the US… in the exiled Cuban community in Miami,” Dominguez said.

“Obviously, they haven’t been able to produce that coup d’etat and one gets a strong impression that they’re getting a bit desperate,” the academic said, referring to the attempt on Maduro’s life.

The means employed to carry out the attack also indicate that serious actors were involved, Dominguez added and not “an individual or a small guerilla force.”

The Venezuelan president said the attack has made him even more determined to continue on his course of “recovery, growth and prosperity,” which would help “turn around” the country’s ailing economy.

Colombia’s ministry of foreign affairs has rejected the allegations it has anything to do with the reported assault.

Venezuela’s economy is in dire straits, with hyperinflation heading for a dismal 1,000,000 percent by end of year. The US has been pressuring the country with sanctions and leveraging its allies to do the same, claiming Maduro is a dictator who came to power illegitimately and is starving his people. US President Donald Trump has openly considered a military option against Venezuela, and calls for a coup have made it to the headlines of US mainstream media.

There have been violent opposition protests in Venezuela, which Maduro believes are being instigated from abroad.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says that he has "hard evidence" that the Colombian government planned and executed an attempted assassination attack on him on Saturday, and that he will release it later in the day.