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Venezuela Forces Reportedly Open Fire on Civilians at Closed Brazil Border

SLAMMED SHUT

One dead, 12 injured as Maduro’s soldiers shut down border to block humanitarian aid.

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Reuters

One person has reportedly died and 12 have been injured after a clash at Venezuela’s now-closed border with Brazil. Embattled Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro ordered that his country’s border with Brazil be closed “completely and absolutely” in an escalating fight over foreign humanitarian aid. On Friday morning, Venezuelan soldiers reportedly fired at civilians who were attempting to keep a segment of the border open to help deliver international relief. Maduro doesn’t want aid brought in because he insists there isn’t any crisis and has called the aid-delivery plans a publicity stunt orchestrated by the United States. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is leading a convoy from the capital, Caracas, to the Colombian border to collect the food and medicine being stockpiled there. Many Venezuelans rushed to the Brazilian city of Pacaraima to stock up on supplies after the announcement. Later in his TV address, Maduro threatened to close the Colombia border next if the aid efforts continue.

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