Nicolas Maduro has filled his Twitter feed with pro-army posts after Juan Guaido appealed to Venezuela's military to support his call for free elections.
ADVERTISEMENTAs Juan Guaidó, who was declared interim president by Venezuela's National Assembly last week, appealed to the country's military for support, Nicolas Maduro has responded by flooding his Twitter account with photos and videos of him with Venezuelan soldiers.
He posted almost a dozen in less than 24 hours.
Guaido has tried to appeal to the military to convince them to back his call for free elections in Venezuela. On January 27, he called on servicepeople to support the constitution and to honour those killed and arrested in recent political protests.
Some of Maduro's posts appeared to make reference to Guaido's comments:
"Our armed forces are prepared to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of attempts to violate our sacred homeland. Always loyal, never traitors!" Maduro wrote.
Maduro's support from the military has been a crucial part of him staying in power since 2013. On January 27, he oversaw a display of the army's Russian hardware, with anti-aircraft flak and tank rounds pounding a hillside to show military force and loyalty in the face of an international ultimatum for new elections.
"Venezuelan soldier, I'm talking to you. This is the moment to be on the constitution's side, it's not a moment of fear, it's not time to step back, it's not time to disrespect the Venezuelan people," he said.
Guaido also asked the armed forces not to shoot fellow Venezuelans and not to "repress peaceful demonstrations."
"Soldier of Venezuela, today I give you an order: don't shoot the Venezuelan people, don't shoot those who in a clear and constitutional way have been defending your family, your people, your work, your way of life," Guaido said.
His supporters have also handed out leaflets to soldiers, urging them to reject President Maduro and explaining how they could be eligible for amnesty if they help return Venezuela to democracy.
President of the National Assembly, Guaido has urged Venezuelans to participate in a big protest on February 2, to coincide with the deadline set by the European Union for Nicolas Maduro to call new elections.
The US, along with Britain, Germany, France and Spain, argued that Maduro's re-election last May was invalid because his strongest opponents were barred from running.