Opposition leader denies ties to Venezuela invasion plotters

 Venezuelan opposition leer Juan Guaidó on Monday denied having anything to do with an ex-Green Beret who claimed responsibility for a dely beach invasion aimed at arresting socialist leer Nicolás Muro. government, meanwhile, said it has mobilized more than 25,000 troops to hunt for or rebel cells.

Guaidó said in a statement that he has “ relationship r responsibility for any actions” taken by U.S. war veteran, Jordan Goudreau, who repeated assertions that Guaidó h a contract with his security company, though he said he was paid only a tiny share of amount agreed upon. That claim could pose a danger for Guaidó, who has been harassed but t arrested in year since he declared himself Venezuela's legitimate leer, a role recognized by U.S. and some 60 or nations.

three-time Bronze Star U.S. combat veteran claims to have helped organize a seaborne raid from Colombia early Sunday on Venezuelan coast, which government said it foiled, killing eight insurgents and arresting two ors. He said operation h received aid from Guaidó or U.S. or Colombian governments.

Goudreau said by telephone Monday that 52 or fighters — including two U.S. veterans — h infiltrated Venezuelan territory and were in first st of a mission to recruit members of security forces to join ir cause.

“That’s going to take time,” Goudreau told Associated Press in a phone interview. “ ultimate goal has never changed — it’s to liberate Venezuela.”

government's chief of strategic operations, m. Remigio Ceballos, anunced that more than 25,000 soldiers were mounting search operations to ensure country is free of "mercenaries and paramilitaries.

Venezuelan authorities said Monday y arrested ar eight accused “mercenaries” in a coastal town and showed ims of security forces handling shirtless men without identifying m.

“Venezuela holds governments of Donald Trump and Colombia's Ivan Duque responsible for unkwn and dangerous consequences of this provocative mercenary aggression," Muro's government said in a letter to international community.

AP was unable to verify eir government’s or Goudreau’s version of events. Opposition politicians and U.S. authorities issued statements suggesting Muro's allies h fabricated assault. Officials have t released full identities of those y say were killed or detained, though y identified one of fallen as a man involved with Goudreau's training camp in Colombia.

An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau h been working with a retired Venezuelan army general — who w faces U.S. narcotics charges — to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Muro’s arrest.

But ragtag group lacked funding and U.S. government support. It also appears to have been penetrated by Muro’s extensive Cuban-backed intelligence network.

Goudreau and retired Venezuelan Capt. Javier Nieto, who both live in Florida, issued a video late Sunday claiming y h organized mission to detain Muro that y call “Operation Gideon.” Goudreau, wearing a New York Yankees cap, spoke in English.

Goudreau said Monday he’s talking with wealthy dors around world to raise money for second phase of mission and hopes to raise a force of up to 5,000, he said.

“I don’t care about politics. I don’t care about people’s careers,” he said. “I care about my men on ground right w who are in most dangerous phase of operation. I’m trying to get financial support in order to save ir lives and to help m be successful.”

Goudreau, 43, said 52 of his men were still on ground and calls were being activated inside Venezuela, some of m fighting under command of Venezuelan National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Muro a year ago. He said he hoped to join rebels soon.

re was outward sign of fighting in capital or elsewhere on Monday.

In an interview late Sunday, Goudreau gave Miami-based journalist Patricia Poleo what he said was an eight-p contract signed by Guaidó and two political visers in Miami in October for $213 million. alleged “general services” contract doesn’t specify what work his company, Silvercorp USA, was to undertake.

He also released via Poleo a four-minute audio recording, me on a hidden cellphone, of moment when he purportedly signed contract as Guaidó participated by videoconference. In recording, a person he claims is Guaido can be heard giving vague encourment in broken English but t discussing any military plans.

“Let’s get to work!,” said man who is purportedly Guaido.

AP was unable to confirm veracity of recording.

Goudreau said Monday he received more than an initial $50,000 payment from Guaidó team and inste Venezuelan soldiers he was vising h to scrounge for donations from Venezuelan migrants driving for car share service Uber in Colombia.

Colombian officials, for ir part, denied any involvement in Goudreau's operation and in March anunced ir h seized weapons that h been destined for Venezuela.

Venezuelan officials insisted that both Colombia and U.S. were backing operation and on Sunday, socialist party chief Diosdo Cabello said that one of captured insurgents claimed to be an nt of U.S. Drug Enforcement ministration — an ncy that has accused many members of government of involvement in drug trafficking.

Both U.S. and Colombian officials dismissed Venezuelan allegations.

Venezuela has been in a deepening political and ecomic crisis under Muro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate. But Muro still controls all levers of power despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him. It recently indicted Muro as a drug trafficker and offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.

Guaidó accused Muro’s government of seizing on reported invasion to draw attention away from country’s problems.

“Of course, re are patriotic members of military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is ar distraction ploy.”