Venezuela braces for rival protests amid US 'electricity war'
Tehran (KNA) - Tens of thousands of Venezuelans are expected to take to the streets on Saturday as the nation continues to struggle with a major blackout that President Nicolas Maduro says is part of an “electric energy war” waged by the United States.
Energy Minister Luis Motta Domínguez has said a Thursday "attack" on the Guri Dam, a large hydroelectric facility in east Venezuela, caused the blackout which has affected virtually every part of the country.
Both supporters and opponents of Maduro were expected to hold rallies in the capital Caracas and other cities on Saturday.
The power outage has deepened a sense of isolation and decay among 31 million Venezuelans, who depend on the country's vast hydroelectric infrastructure for its domestic electricity supply.
Following the the cut, Maduro ordered schools and all government entities closed and told businesses not to open to facilitate efforts to restore power.
Source: PressTV