World | Venezuela Venezuela Opposition Leader Hails 'Great Achievement' Juan Guaido says humanitarian aid is getting through By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Feb 23, 2019 10:45 AM CST Copied Demonstrators run from tear gas fired by Bolivarian National Guard officers during clashes in Urena, Venezuela, near the border with Colombia, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Opposition leader Juan Guaido says the first shipment of humanitarian aid has crossed into Venezuela from Brazil. Guaido announced the crossing on his Twitter account Saturday. He called it a "great achievement." The AP could not independently confirm the aid had passed through. Guaido one month ago declared presidential powers, vowing to end what he calls the tyranny of President Nicolas Maduro. A defiant Maduro denies a humanitarian crisis exists and has ordered the closing of Venezuela's borders to block Guaido's effort, which he says is part of a US-led coup. Meanwhile, the AP reports that Venezuela's National Guard fired tear gas on residents clearing a barricaded border bridge to Colombia on Saturday. By midday, opposition leader Juan Guaido pulled himself onto a semi-truck and shook hands with its driver as he and Colombian President Ivan Duque gave a ceremonial send off to an aid convoy looking to transport nearly 200 metric tons of mostly US-supplied emergency food and medical supplies from the Colombian city of Cucuta. Read These Next Kristi Noem won't like this Wall Street Journal exposé. Trump grants wave of pardons to ex-NFL players. Au pair struck a deal to walk free in murder case. She got 10 years. Not on the ingredient list of your dog food: heavy metals. Report an error