PEACE campaigners warned a foreign attack on Venezuela would prompt a “bloody civil war” today as it appeared that the United States was preparing the ground for a military invasion with thousands of troops rumoured to be massing in neighbouring Colombia.

Hawkish US National Security Adviser John Bolton sparked intense discussion yesterday after he was photographed carrying a note which appeared to read: “5,000 troops to Colombia” as he left a press conference during which he announced fresh sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA.

It comes days after US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham revealed that President Donald Trump had discussed the use of military intervention as imperialist powers ramp up their efforts to bring down democratically elected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.