TWO advisers to Venezuela’s opposition leader, Juan Guaido, yesterday resigned after being accused by the government of President Nicolas Maduro of links to a botched “invasion” by mercenaries.

“Political strategist Juan Jose Rendon and deputy Sergio Vergara presented their resignations” to Guaido’s team, said its press office in a statement.

Guaido, the head of the National Assembly, is recognised by more than 50 countries as the country’s acting leader, and is trying to force Maduro, who was re-elected in 2018 in polls widely viewed as rigged, from power.

But, Maduro retains the backing of the powerful armed forces, which thwarted the invasion by a small band of mercenaries about a week ago.

Two Americans are among 45 people arrested and accused of taking part in the invasion bid, while another eight people were killed.

The US nationals – former soldiers Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41 – have been imprisoned and charged with “terrorism, conspiracy, illicit trafficking of weapons of war, and (criminal) association”.

Guaido accepted the resignations of Rendon, his “general strategist”, and lawmaker Vergara, his “presidential commissioner” in crisis management, said the press office.

Maduro’s regime has accused Guaido and US President Donald Trump of being behind the seaborne invasion, which took place in the early hours of May 4 off Venezuela’s northern coast.

On Friday, the attorney-general’s office announced that it is seeking an international arrest warrant for both Rendon and Vergara, who live in the US, accusing them of having signed a contract, alongside Guaido, with private security firm Silvercorp USA, which was tasked with carrying out the invasion.

Attorney-General Tarek William Saab also requested an arrest warrant for Silvercorp founder Jordan Goudreau.

Rendon admitted in an interview with CNN to having signed a contract with the company, but said it was “exploratory” and no green light was given to an operation in Venezuela. He also denied Guaido’s involvement.

In his resignation letter, Rendon accused Maduro’s government of “misrepresentation” regarding the contract, describing it as a “coarse manipulation” designed to “weave an epic to give it respite” from criticism over the country’s economic collapse.

Guaido has called the contract “false”, and on Friday said the regime is looking for “excuses” to arrest him.

So far, the public prosecutor has not issued an arrest warrant against Guaido. – AFP, May 12, 2020.