Venezuela crisis: Maduro closing border with Brazil

Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the closure of the border with Brazil amid a row over foreign humanitarian aid.

The leftist leader went on TV to say he was also considering shutting the key border with Colombia to stop the opposition bringing in relief.

He denies any crisis and calls the aid delivery plans a US-orchestrated show.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is leading a convoy from the capital, Caracas, to the Colombian border.

Later on Friday, a concert will be held on the Colombian side of the border to raise money for Venezuela. At the same time, Mr Maduro’s government will hold its own event, reportedly just 300m (980ft) away.

Mr Guaidó, head of the National Assembly, declared himself interim leader during anti-government protests last month and is recognised by dozens of countries, including the US and most Latin American nations.

He and his allies hope to collect food and medicine being gathered in neighbouring Brazil and Colombia on Saturday, in defiance of President Maduro.

Brazil border: Aid showdown

Flanked by Venezuela’s defence minister and other top military commanders, Mr Maduro announced that the border with Brazil would be closed “completely and absolutely” until further notice on Thursday night.

The crossing usually closes at night and would normally open at 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

After the announcement, many Venezuelans rushed to the Brazilian city of Pacaraima to stock up on supplies.

The right-wing Brazilian government of President Jair Bolsonaro is among those that recognise Mr Guaidó as legitimate leader, pending elections.

On Tuesday, Brazil announced that, in co-ordination with the US, food and medicine would be available in Pacaraima to be collected by “the government of acting President Juan Guaidó in Venezuelan trucks driven by Venezuelans”.

Colombia border: Battle of the bands

British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has organised a concert near the Tienditas Bridge crossing, on the Colombian side of the border at Cúcuta, hoping to raise about $100m (£77m) to buy food and medicine for Venezuelans.

Venezuela Aid Live, he said, has been organised at the request of Mr Guaidó and another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who is under house arrest. About 250,000 people are expected to attend.

Not to be outdone, the Venezuelan government has erected a stage on its side of the crossing for its Hands Off Venezuela event.

The Venezuelan military has so far managed to block shipments of US aid from coming from Colombia, and Mr Maduro said he had also been evaluating a “total closure” of this border.

The government had already closed its sea and air border with Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island off Venezuela’s north coast where US aid is being stored.

Despite denying there is any humanitarian crisis, Mr Maduro announced this week that 300 tonnes of aid would be shipped from its ally Russia.

More than three million Venezuelans have fled in recent years as the country grapples with hyperinflation and shortages of essential goods, the UN says.