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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Venezuela opposition politician Luis Manuel Diaz killed | Venezuela opposition politician Luis Manuel Diaz killed |
| (4 days later) | |
| A regional opposition leader in Venezuela has been shot dead at a campaign rally less than two weeks before parliamentary elections. | A regional opposition leader in Venezuela has been shot dead at a campaign rally less than two weeks before parliamentary elections. |
| The Democratic Action party says Luis Manuel Diaz was killed by a man who approached the stage after a public meeting in central Guarico state. | The Democratic Action party says Luis Manuel Diaz was killed by a man who approached the stage after a public meeting in central Guarico state. |
| Opposition leaders blamed militias supporting the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). | Opposition leaders blamed militias supporting the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). |
| President Nicolas Maduro denied this and said an inquiry had been launched. | President Nicolas Maduro denied this and said an inquiry had been launched. |
| "The interior ministry has strong indications that it was a clash between rival criminal gangs," said Mr Maduro. | "The interior ministry has strong indications that it was a clash between rival criminal gangs," said Mr Maduro. |
| Lilian Tintori, the wife of jailed opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, addressed opposition supporters alongside Mr Diaz shortly before the shooting. | Lilian Tintori, the wife of jailed opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, addressed opposition supporters alongside Mr Diaz shortly before the shooting. |
| The Democratic Action party leader, Henry Ramos Allup, said Mr Diaz had been shot dead by "armed PSUV gangs" from a vehicle. | The Democratic Action party leader, Henry Ramos Allup, said Mr Diaz had been shot dead by "armed PSUV gangs" from a vehicle. |
| "Whatever happens, the Venezuelan people will go to the polls on 6 December, and we will win", said Mr Ramos Allup in a press conference. | "Whatever happens, the Venezuelan people will go to the polls on 6 December, and we will win", said Mr Ramos Allup in a press conference. |
| "It is important that people do not get intimidated." | "It is important that people do not get intimidated." |
| Mr Ramos Allup initially tweeted that Mr Diaz had been killed by gunmen who shot from a passing car. | Mr Ramos Allup initially tweeted that Mr Diaz had been killed by gunmen who shot from a passing car. |
| He later rectified and said the shots came from a gunman who came close to the stage after the rally. | |
| Mr Maduro responded to Mr Ramos Allup's comments by telling him to produce evidence to back up his accusations. | Mr Maduro responded to Mr Ramos Allup's comments by telling him to produce evidence to back up his accusations. |
| "We must not jump into conclusions," said the president. | "We must not jump into conclusions," said the president. |
| "And let us not accept any type of provocation!" he urged his supporters during a rally. | "And let us not accept any type of provocation!" he urged his supporters during a rally. |
| 'Tackle impunity' | 'Tackle impunity' |
| Election monitors sent to Venezuela by the regional bloc Unasur condemned the killing in the town of Altagracia de Orituco. | Election monitors sent to Venezuela by the regional bloc Unasur condemned the killing in the town of Altagracia de Orituco. |
| "We express our most energetic rejection of all types of violence which could affect the electoral process," they wrote on Twitter. | "We express our most energetic rejection of all types of violence which could affect the electoral process," they wrote on Twitter. |
| The head of Venezuela's Electoral Commission, Luis Emilio Rondon, has also expressed concern over recent incidents of violence. | The head of Venezuela's Electoral Commission, Luis Emilio Rondon, has also expressed concern over recent incidents of violence. |
| He called for a thorough investigation "to identify the perpetrators and tackle impunity". | He called for a thorough investigation "to identify the perpetrators and tackle impunity". |
| Opposition politicians say their candidates have been attacked on numerous occasions in the past weeks. | Opposition politicians say their candidates have been attacked on numerous occasions in the past weeks. |
| Miguel Pizarro, an opposition politician running for re-election in Caracas, said he was confronted by armed men who shot into the air in the neighbourhood of Petare on Sunday. | Miguel Pizarro, an opposition politician running for re-election in Caracas, said he was confronted by armed men who shot into the air in the neighbourhood of Petare on Sunday. |
| Miranda state governor Henrique Capriles said he was attacked by a group of masked men in the town of Yare earlier this month. | Miranda state governor Henrique Capriles said he was attacked by a group of masked men in the town of Yare earlier this month. |
| Mr Capriles said the men, who he alleged were government supporters, had opened fire to stop him from holding a campaign rally. | Mr Capriles said the men, who he alleged were government supporters, had opened fire to stop him from holding a campaign rally. |
| The government has denied any involvement in any of the attacks and accused the opposition of trying to provoke PSUV supporters. | The government has denied any involvement in any of the attacks and accused the opposition of trying to provoke PSUV supporters. |
| The PSUV currently holds a majority of seats in parliament. | The PSUV currently holds a majority of seats in parliament. |
| But some recent opinion polls suggest that if the elections set for 6 December were held now, the opposition coalition would win convincingly. | But some recent opinion polls suggest that if the elections set for 6 December were held now, the opposition coalition would win convincingly. |
| Venezuela's rampant crime, the drop in oil revenues and chronic shortages of some basic goods have hurt President Maduro's approval ratings. | Venezuela's rampant crime, the drop in oil revenues and chronic shortages of some basic goods have hurt President Maduro's approval ratings. |