SCOTS have gathered outside the US consulate in Edinburgh to protest over the attack on Venezuela and the abduction of the country's president Nicolas Maduro.
Activists called for the immediate release of Maduro and an end to US aggression in Venezuela and across the Americas at the demonstration on Regent Street on Saturday.
They could be seen holding signs reading "War Criminals", "No War In Venezuela" and "Oppression Is The Mask Of Fear, Globalise The Rebellion".
Meanwhile, one protester held a sign emblazoned with the Saltire which stated: "Scotland against Trump: Scotland hated Trump before it was fashionable".
Scots also expressed solidarity with the Palestine hunger strikers , as well as protesting against Donald Trump's threats against Greenland and t he fatal shooting of a US woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
The protest was organised by Stop The War Scotland, with the support of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), Scottish Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
STUC deputy general Linda Somerville told the crowd: “We’re along here today on behalf of Scotland’s trade union movement to give our absolute backing to the people of Venezuela who stand trying to defend their own sovereignty and their right to determine their own government.
READ MORE: Hunger strike protesters target major bank over links to Israeli arms firm
“We are completely opposed to the military aggression and intervention in Venezuela, which has seen the kidnapping of their president and the first lady, and we call on all of our politicians, particularly the Prime Minister in the UK, to stand up against the military aggression and to condemn this act that breaks all international laws.”
Activists also called for an end to UK "collusion with the Trump administration’s actions", and for the Scottish Government to suspend cooperation with the US government "until international law is respected and attacks cease".
Sophie Johnson, secretary of Stop the War Scotland, said: “These latest assaults by the US Trump administration on Venezuelan sovereignty are an open act of military aggression and imperial domination against a much weaker country.
“Trump has made no pretence of following international law and boasts that he is grabbing oil and asserting US sovereignty over the entire American hemisphere.
READ MORE: Buzzing city named Scotland's best to live and its not Glasgow or Edinburgh
“Yet despite the openly offensive and criminal nature of these attacks, including the abduction of the head of state of a sovereign, independent country, the UK Government meekly bows to US power."
Johnson called for the release of Maduro and demanded the UK Government “dissociate itself from these acts and likewise demand this rampage stops".
“The failure of US allies to oppose these acts has emboldened Trump to threaten numerous other governments in North and South America, and even to threaten Nato member Denmark over Greenland, which the US Government asserts it wishes to take over," she continued.
She said the “spineless collusion of our Government in this naked imperialism is aiding and abetting Trump".
Johnson added: “In Scotland, John Swinney has acknowledged the illegality of these acts, but pledged no action.
“It’s time for the Scottish Government to end its trade talks with the US until aggression ceases and international law is complied with.
“Failure to confront Trump today will mean threats continue to multiply. These events show that, more than ever, we need a powerful anti-war movement to hold our leaders accountable and halt the rapid descent into global conflict.”
Following the protest, Police Scotland confirmed no arrests were made.
Maduro was kidnapped in a night-time raid over the weekend and taken out of the country after Donald Trump ordered military strikes on the country.
Maduro pleaded not guilty in court in New York earlier this week after he was indicted along with his wife, Cilia Flores, on charges of "narco-terrorism".
READ MORE: LIVE updates as Scotland braces for SEVEN weather warnings this weekend
The Labour Government has refused to say whether the large-scale strike by the US on Venezuela constitutes a breach of international law.
In Scotland, First Minister John Swinney has said he cannot see how the operation was within the bounds of legality.
Share