Venezuela: at least 7 explosions and sounds of aircraft in Caracas

Caracas (VENEZUELA), Jan. 3 (AP/LaPresse) – At least seven explosions and the sounds of low-flying aircraft were heard at around 2 a.m. on Saturday in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Residents of several neighborhoods took to the streets. In recent days, the U.S. military has targeted alleged Venezuelan boats involved in drug trafficking and on Friday the South American country led by Nicolás Maduro said it was willing to negotiate an agreement with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking. In a pre-recorded interview aired on Thursday, Maduro said that the United States wants to impose a change of government in Venezuela and obtain access to its vast oil reserves through the months-long pressure campaign that began with a major military deployment in the Caribbean Sea.