Venezuela military defends protests role, backs Maduro congress

By Andrew CawthorneCARACAS (Reuters) - Decried by protesters as "murderers" defending a dictator, Venezuela's military insisted on Thursday it was not taking sides in the national political turmoil, though it did back socialist President Nicolas Maduro's controversial plan for a new congress.The armed forces' National Guard unit has played a pivotal role in two months of unrest rocking Venezuela, often blocking marches and using teargas and water cannons to fight youths hurling stones and Moloto