Venezuelan FM thanks Erdogan for condemning coup bid

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuela's foreign minister thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday for condemning a coup attempt in the South American country.

Jorge Arreaza praised Erdogan on Twitter for his determined and overt support for international law and peace and respect for democracy in Venezuela.

Arreaza shared Erdogan’s post on Twitter which said: "We, as a country, which has experienced coups and their negative consequences, condemn the coup bid in Venezuela.”

Earlier, Erdogan tweeted: “Those who attempt to appoint a postmodern colonial governor to Venezuela, where the people are sovereign and where President comes through elections, should know only democratic elections determined the way to govern the country.”

Erdogan went on to say that the world has to respect the democratic choices of the people in Venezuela

"Ballot box is essential in democracies," he added.

Earlier Tuesday, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido released a video in which he could be seen alongside a small contingent of uniformed military personnel and armored vehicles calling for an uprising to end the "usurpation" of President Nicolas Maduro.

Guaido stressed that it was the beginning of the final phase of “Operacion Libertad”, or Operation Liberty, to oust Maduro.

“The National Armed Forces have made the correct decision. They have the support of the Venezuelan people," he said.

Guaido also called on Venezuelans to take to the streets to support the "democratic forces" and "recover the country's freedom".