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| Venezuela re-opens Colombian border to allow shoppers to cross | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Venezuela has opened its border with Colombia for the second time this month to allow people to cross over to shop for basic foods and medicines. | Venezuela has opened its border with Colombia for the second time this month to allow people to cross over to shop for basic foods and medicines. |
| Last week 35,000 crossed over for the first time since the border was closed a year ago by President Nicolas Maduro to fight cross-border crime. | Last week 35,000 crossed over for the first time since the border was closed a year ago by President Nicolas Maduro to fight cross-border crime. |
| Officials said they were expecting even larger crowds this weekend. | Officials said they were expecting even larger crowds this weekend. |
| Many basic goods are in short supply in Venezuela because of a severe economic crisis in the country. | Many basic goods are in short supply in Venezuela because of a severe economic crisis in the country. |
| The border across a pedestrian bridge connecting Tachira in Venezuela and Cucuta in Colombia opened on Saturday, a day earlier than authorities from both countries had previously announced. | The border across a pedestrian bridge connecting Tachira in Venezuela and Cucuta in Colombia opened on Saturday, a day earlier than authorities from both countries had previously announced. |
| Officials said they wanted to avoid the build-up of too many people. | Officials said they wanted to avoid the build-up of too many people. |
| It was expected to stay open for about 12 hours. | It was expected to stay open for about 12 hours. |
| Venezuelans cross border | Venezuelans cross border |
| Growing discontent on the streets | Growing discontent on the streets |
| Women push past border controls | Women push past border controls |
| Venezuela has suffered severe shortages for months as a result of the falling price of oil which is the country's prime source of income. | Venezuela has suffered severe shortages for months as a result of the falling price of oil which is the country's prime source of income. |
| Many supermarket have empty shelves and Venezuelans spend days in queues to buy basic goods. | Many supermarket have empty shelves and Venezuelans spend days in queues to buy basic goods. |
| Government critics also blame President Maduro for severe mismanagement of the economy. | Government critics also blame President Maduro for severe mismanagement of the economy. |
| Mr Maduro for his part has blamed the country's business community for the shortages. | Mr Maduro for his part has blamed the country's business community for the shortages. |
| He ordered the border to be closed in August 2015 after former Colombian paramilitaries attacked a Venezuelan military patrol and wounded three soldiers. | He ordered the border to be closed in August 2015 after former Colombian paramilitaries attacked a Venezuelan military patrol and wounded three soldiers. |