On July 31, the government of re-elected President Nicolas Maduro began to propose tough measures to suppress the uprisings initiated by opposition forces to protest the results of the presidential election.

According to Venezuelan media, riot police were deployed and fired tear gas into crowds of opposition protesters. At least 11 deaths were reported in clashes across the country.

Fearing further violence, President Maduro called on his supporters to rally around the presidential palace to defend it from protesters. Supporters of President-elect Maduro, including senior military officials, declared their determination to crush what they called a “coup attempt” that left nearly 50 military and police officers injured and dozens of government buildings in cities set on fire.

White House officials said they were “very concerned” about the situation in Venezuela. US President Joe Biden spoke for 30 minutes by phone with Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva, one of Mr Maduro’s top foreign allies, about the situation in Venezuela. Mr Luiz da Silva’s leftist political party has recognized Mr Maduro as the winner of the election.

In another development, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil announced that his country has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Peru. On social network X, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil announced: "The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided to sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of Peru, on the basis of Article 45 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961". Mr. Gil said Caracas was forced to make this decision after the statement of the Peruvian Foreign Minister, which he said "ignored the will of the Venezuelan people and the Venezuelan Constitution".

On July 29, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of the Peruvian Ambassador along with the ambassadors of six other Latin American countries including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic and Uruguay, after the governments of these countries did not recognize the results of the presidential election on July 28.

KHANH MINH