South America

CARACAS, May 8 (Xinhua): Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) on Wednesday "categorically and forcefully" rejected the threat made by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to sanction the magistrates if they don't oppose President Nicolas Maduro.

In a statement read by TSJ President Maikel Moreno, the judicial body said that Pence "in a disrespectful and interfering manner seeks to subject the highest Venezuelan judicial authorities to threats that violate the principles of independence."

9 May 2019; DW: Venezuelan intelligence agents on Wednesday detained Edgar Zambrano, the deputy leader of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, for supporting an attempted uprising on April 30.

Zambrano, opposition leader and self-declared President Juan Guaido's deputy as National Assembly speaker, was detained by agents in Caracas for backing the failed April 30 military uprising against President Nicolas Maduro, which was orchestrated by Guaido.

CARACAS, May 7. /TASS/: Venezuela's law enforcers have detained over 330 people in protests that started on April 30, head of the non-governmental organization Penal Forum (Foro Penal) Alfredo Romero said on Tuesday.

"Since April 30, 338 people were detained during protests for political reasons," Union Radio quoted Romero as saying.

Romero noted that there are currently 857 political prisoners in Venezuela.

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 6 (Xinhua): Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is considering traveling to the U.S. state of Texas where he may meet with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, his spokesperson said Monday, days after he canceled a trip to New York City.

Plans for a potential trip by Bolsonaro to Dallas city for an event scheduled for May 14-16 are still being finalized, spokesperson Otavio Rego Barros told a regular press briefing.

7 May 2019; AFP: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said Monday that backers who had pledged support for his abortive uprising last week had "failed to follow through" to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro.

But that "doesn't mean that they won't do it soon," Guaido told AFP in an interview in Caracas.

Guaido, recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, said it was "obvious today, there is widespread discontent from which the armed forces aren't immune."

CARACAS, May 6 (Xinhua): At least five people were killed and around 233 people arrested after the April 30 coup attempt in Venezuela, Venezuela's prosecutor general Tarek William Saab said Monday.

In an interview with local television, Saab said that the coup was carried out through a call by opposition leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Juan Guaido, backed by renegade soldiers.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has so far issued 18 arrest warrants and some are against military officials, the prosecutor general said.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Seven Venezuelan military officers were killed on Saturday when their helicopter crashed while heading to a state where President Nicolás Maduro appeared alongside troops, days after the opposition called in vain for a military uprising.

The Cougar helicopter hurtled into a mountain outside Caracas in the early hours of an overcast day in the capital. An investigation was underway.

4 May 2019; DW: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has canceled plans to attend a gala dinner in New York where he was to be honored after the event drew widespread criticism in the US city, among other things from its mayor.

The far-right leader has come under fire both at home and abroad for making racist, homophobic and misogynist remarks and for pursuing policies that many see as highly damaging to the environment.

3 May 2019; DW: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sought to rally the military on Thursday in the wake of an unsuccessful coup against him.

He called on the armed forces to oppose anyone involved in opposition leader Juan Guaido's latest attempt to oust his regime.

CARACAS, May 2. /TASS/:  More than 300 people were injured in clashes that followed protest demonstrations in Venezuela on Tuesday and Wednesday, head of the Foro Penal non-governmental organization Alfredo Romero tweeted on Thursday.

"Four people were killed, 240 were detained, and more than 300 were injured (including gunshot wounds and other) during demonstrations held form April 30 to May 1," Romero wrote.

According to Romero, two people were killed in the capital district and two others in the Aragua State. Two of the victims were minors.