The United States today denied involvement as Nicolas Maduro blamed the opposition and Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos for an alleged "assassination" attempt on the Venezuela president.
Venezuela's far-left government said seven soldiers were wounded by the alleged attack using explosive-laden drones during a military parade in Caracas yesterday.
Maduro pointed the finger at outgoing Colombian President Santos and "the ultra-right wing," a term he uses to describe domestic opposition, as a mysterious rebel group claimed responsibility.
US national security advisor John Bolton insisted there was "no US government involvement" and even suggested that the incident could have been "a pretext set up by the regime itself."
"We cannot tolerate that the population is suffering from hunger, that the sick do not have medicine, that the currency has no value, or that the education system neither educates nor teaches, only indoctrinating communism," said the statement, accusing the regime of having "made public office an obscene way to get rich." Maduro, though, blamed neighbouring Colombia: "I have no doubt that the name Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack."
The Colombian foreign ministry denied involvement, saying the allegations were "absurd" and "lacked any foundation." Maduro said investigations pointed to financial backers who "live in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hope that President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups."
In a statement, the Russia foreign ministry said: "We are convinced that settling political differences must be carried out exclusively in a peaceful and democratic way."
Iran's foreign ministry decried "a step towards causing instability and insecurity in Venezuela," while Syria called for "respect of the country's sovereignty and no interference in its internal affairs."