venezuelan general denounces president nicolas maduro and effects to the opposition on twitter francisco younis of the air force declared allegiance to self appointed interim president want live in cities across the country in mass protests around the way to go live to caracas. also coming up. russian president vladimir putin says his country will follow washington's late in suspending a landmark nuclear arms control pact could this be the start of a new arms writes. i'm rebecca rich's welcome to the program in venezuela a high ranking air force official in general has declared allegiance to opposition leader one quite oh general francisco younis released a video statement via twitter saying he recognized why go as interim head of state it's a major victory for quite a who's been working hard to persuade bennett's whan his armed forces to abandon support for president nicolas maduro let's hear what the general had to say. i'm addressing you today to say that i reject the illegitimate and dictatorial authority of mr nicolas maduro and except one quite go as the president in charge of the bouleva

general francisco younis released a video statement via twitter saying he recognized him as interim head of state it's a major victory for quite a who has been working hard to persuade venezuela when us wireless. forces to abandon support for president nicolas maduro let's hear a bit of what the general had to say maybe who i am addressing you today to say that i reject the illegitimate and dictatorial authority of mr nicolas maduro and accept one quite go as the president in charge of the boulevard republic of venezuela in a way ninety percent of the armed forces oppose the dictator and support the venezuelan people if. that high profile backing comes as thousands of protesters held rival rallies across venezuela self declared interim president one why don't you join supporters in the capital caracas they want to do roach call fresh elections everywhere madeira supporters held rallies marking twenty years since the rise to power of late neda hugo chavez bunch of men to row support comes from venezuela's military leaders and that's why general ghana's is backing is being seen as a major

the opposition and also protests against president nicolas maduro on twitter the air force is francisco younis declared allegiance to self appointed interim president why does we'll go live to caracas also coming up russian president vladimir putin says his country will follow washington blade in suspending a landmark nuclear arms control tax could this be the start of a new arms race. i'm rebecca races welcome to the program in venezuela high ranking air force general has declared allegiance to opposition leader one. general grant cisco jaan has released a video statement by twitter saying he recognized as interim head of state it's a major victory for quite a who's been working hard to persuade venezuela's on forces to abandon support for president nicolas maduro caracas and other cities across venice when i'm bracing for mass demonstrations later today the opposition has called for marches to support quite a. a rally on saturday venezuelan brothers we invite you to protest points in every city around the world we need to send an important message and thank those countries that have already

hour where an air force general has publicly broken ranks with president nicolas maduro general francisco younis posted this video on twitter calling on members of the military to follow his lead it comes on the day opposition leader and south proclaimed interim president called for what he says would be the biggest march in the history of venezuela and the continent general younis is the first seven air force general to defect. or the local mom addressing you to say that i deserve all the authority of the dictator nicolas maduro and i recognize one guy who is the president in charge of it is the law ninety percent of the armed forces do not side with the president maduro we side with the people over in israel and. we want to show you some live pictures now from venezuela capital caracas here they are major demonstrations underway there this saturday demonstrations called by the opposition and its leader. declared himself president as you know let's speak to our latin america and it's a lucien newman in caracas for us to see a let's start with this important development the defection of this gen

younis is head of strategic planning with the air force so the air force still loyal to nicolas maduro tweeted this in response we could not have expected less from the traitor division general francisco esteban yanez rodriguez nephew of the corrupt general yanez mendez by the way is being investigated by the comptroller general for corruption hash tag always loyal never traitors are latin america editor of the cinema is joining us from caracas a correct us how significant is this defection. mean this is a big development as you can. imagine this video viral on the in its way that it is as you say the first time the high ranking general has publicly affected in this way and it comes at a very very crucial i'm sure that meeting next month it has been not only will count on the armed forces and support to stay in power at this point that there is going to question about that but also as the evolution of the bay appearing by the side of different areas of the armed forces be that may be on. the air force. taking part in military exercises trying to show unity at this hour as the opposition appeals over and over again for the armed forces to desert and i would want to come over to the sid