Maduro liable for aid-related border violence: Colombia

By Muhammed Emin Canik

CUCUTA (AA) - Colombia's president said on Saturday that his Venezuelan counterpart would be responsible for any violence that breaks out in relation to an attempt to bring "humanitarian aid" across their mutual border into Venezuela.

Speaking at a press conference on Tienditas Bridge between the two countries, Ivan Duque underlined that 14 trucks of more than 100 tons of aid materials had been delivered to Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido.

He called for the "passive" entrance of the materials into Venezuela, saying an attempt to block them would be a crime against humanity and an "attack on human rights."

"We ask that the Venezuelan armed forces be on the correct side and accept their [brothers and sisters] carrying humanitarian aid," Duque told journalists.

For his part, Guaido alleged that the first batch of aid materials had entered the country via its border with Brazil.

"We officially announce that the first shipment of humanitarian aid has already entered [through] our border with Brazil. This is a great achievement, Venezuela!" he said on Twitter.

Miguel Pizarro, a deputy in the Venezuelan National Assembly, said a truck filled with medicine had entered Venezuela from Brazil and that 200 tons of relief had been shipped from Puerto Rico to enter the country via its maritime border in the coming hours.

A row over humanitarian aid continues in the South American nation as the government refuses to let U.S. supplies in, saying it will lead to military intervention by Washington.

The opposition argues aid should be allowed in since 300,000 people urgently need food and medicine and 2 million are facing health risks.

Juan Guaido had announced his followers will attempt to force through convoys of U.S. aid from Colombia into Venezuela.

Earlier, Brazil followed Colombia and announced it would send "humanitarian aid" to the border with Venezuela.

Venezuelan defense chief Vladimir Padrino Lopez on Feb. 19 said troops remain on alert at the borders to guard against territorial violations, adding they would not take orders from other governments.

Venezuela has also closed its maritime border with three Dutch Caribbean islands -- Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire -- ahead of the “foreign aid” operation.

Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 until new elections were held, and was recognized by Australia, Canada, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica and the U.S. The European Parliament took a step in the same direction.

Turkey, Russia, Iran, Cuba, China and Bolivia reiterate support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who vowed to cut all diplomatic and political ties with the U.S. following the diplomatic spat.

U.S. President Donald Trump pointed to military intervention as a possible of a number of choices he could use to help solve the crisis.