Crisis-Hit Venezuela Launches War Games

Venezuela was to launch two days of war games on Friday, flexing its military muscle as President Nicolas Maduro battles an opposition push to have him voted out and instability from an imploding economy.

Half a million soldiers and militia members were taking part in the exercise meant to show the armed forces are prepared to put down any internal strife or foreign aggression.

Maduro, who accuses the U.S. of conspiring against him, this week imposed a state of emergency giving soldiers and police broader powers to keep public order and distribute scarce food.

He has warned he could ratchet up the extraordinary measures -- which last for 60 days and which Maduro said could be extended -- if violence challenges his authority.

"I will not hesitate" to harden the state of emergency "to fight for the peace and security of this country," Maduro said.

Late Thursday, the Supreme Court -- which has several loyalist judges -- declared Maduro's decree constitutional, overruling the opposition-controlled congress, which had voted this week to reject it.

- Unpopular president -

The president's popularity has shrunk along with the country's economy, which is in deep recession and suffering the highest inflation in the world as low oil prices depress Venezuela's main source of revenue.

Lines for food and other essential goods are a common sight. Electricity is being rationed through mandated blackouts and a government employee workweek has been cut to just two days.

Seventy percent of Venezuelans want a change of government, and Maduro is deeply unpopular, according to recent polls. U.S. intelligence officials last week said they believed the country could be on the brink of revolt.

Venezuela's opposition has urged the army to come over to its side, but there was no sign of its appeal being heeded by the generals.

Anti-Maduro protests in two dozen cities including the capital took place on Wednesday, resulting in dozens of arrests and reportedly seven police officers injured.

On Thursday, the head of security for the speaker of congress was arrested for allegedly being the "mastermind" of the attacks on the police.

The speaker, Henry Ramos Allup, tweeted that the arrest was the "typical attitude of the coward," referring to Maduro.

"As they couldn't get me, they went after humble people working with me."

The protests were to demand that electoral authorities announce a recall referendum against the president this year.

A petition with 1.8 million signatures -- far more than needed to have a vote called -- was lodged with the National Electoral Council (CNE) more than two weeks ago. The opposition accuses the CNE of stalling.

- Mediation bid -

With the political climate worsening, a trio of foreign mediators on Thursday announced they were trying to establish "national dialogue" between the government and opposition.

But given the differences and obstinacy, the initiative is facing "a long, hard and difficult path," said the trio's leader, former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

"We must be prudent" about the chances of success, he said.

The other two members of the crisis mediation team are the former presidents of Panama and the Dominican Republic, Martin Torrijos and Leonel Fernandez.

They held separate meetings with Maduro and opposition leaders on Thursday.

But both sides have dug in.

The opposition coalition issued a statement saying the talks must focus on the recall referendum.

And Maduro told a crowd of supporters he hoped dialogue would lead to the opposition dropping its "coup-oriented attitude."