Venezuela Prosecutor General Says 5 Killed Amid Protests After Coup Attempt

Five people were killed and around 233 people were arrested in Venezuela last week as a result of protests, sparked by a coup attempt by the opposition, Venezuelan Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab has said in his interview for Mexican broadcaster Televisa.

"Around 233 people were arrested, and five people were killed. All these cases are being investigated", Saab told Televisa late on Monday.

Saab said on Saturday that his office had requested for 18 arrest warrants to be issued in connection with the coup attempt.

The Venezuelan opposition, led by US-backed self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, initiated last Tuesday a new attempt to oust constitutionally elected President Nicolas Maduro, staging a rally in front of La Carlota military base in Caracas. The coup attempt turned violent and left around 240 people injured, according to UN figures.

Maduro has said that the commanders of all regions and zones of integral defence had reiterated their full loyalty to the authorities of the country.

Venezuela has been rocked by unrest since January, when Guaido proclaimed himself the country’s interim president and was recognized by the United States and dozens of other nations.

Maduro, recognized by China and Russia among numerous other countries, has accused the United States of seeking to overthrow his government and install Guaido in a bid to get hold of Venezuela's natural resources.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton reiterated that "all options are on the table" with regard to Venezuela, adding, however, that Washington hoped to see a peaceful transfer of power. Moreover, a number of high-ranking US officials have repeatedly stated that all options remain on the table with regard to the Venezuelan crisis, including military action.