News from Venezuela: Maduro warns he will call for ‘new revolution’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned on Wednesday that he will not hesitate to call on the population for a “new revolution” if forced to do so by what he called “North American imperialism and fascist criminals.”

Maduro’s comments come as deadly protests rage across the country following a disputed presidential election victory that the US and several other countries refuse to recognise.

“I do not want to look for other ways to make a revolution, I say it solemnly from political power, we want to continue the path that (Hugo) Chavez has mapped out,” Maduro said in Caracas during a news conference with international media.

“But if North American imperialism and fascist criminals force us, my wrist will not tremble to call the people to a new revolution with different characteristics,” he added.

The president’s comments come just hours after US National Security spokesman John Kirby called on Maduro to “clean up” Sunday’s election.

“Our patience, and that of the international community, is running out as we wait for Venezuelan electoral authorities to come clean and release the full, detailed data on this election so that everyone can see the results,” Kirby told reporters during a White House press briefing on Wednesday.

Kirby said the U.S. and other countries “share serious concerns about the reports of casualties, violence and arrests, including the arrest warrants issued today (Wednesday) by Maduro and his representatives for opposition leaders.”

“We are closely monitoring this together with the international community and will respond appropriately,” Kirby said.

20 ‘credible reports’ of deaths

The Venezuelan leader’s comments came after Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it had received 20 “credible reports” of deaths linked to nationwide protests over the election results.

“We work to document and confirm each case,” Juanita Goebertus, HRW director for the Americas, wrote on X.

Foro Penal, a local NGO, reported on Tuesday that a total of 11 people were killed during the protests.

Five of the dead were in Caracas, two in Zulia and Yaracuy, and one each in Aragua and Tachira, Alfredo Romero, the head of Foro Penal, told reporters on Tuesday.

CNN has contacted Venezuela’s Attorney General’s Office for comment.

So far, the Venezuelan government has not published any information about the deaths of civilians.