This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-40667309
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela crisis: Deadly clashes as millions join strike | Venezuela crisis: Deadly clashes as millions join strike |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Millions of Venezuelans have joined a general strike called by the opposition as pressure mounts on President Nicolás Maduro to cancel elections for a new constituent assembly. | Millions of Venezuelans have joined a general strike called by the opposition as pressure mounts on President Nicolás Maduro to cancel elections for a new constituent assembly. |
| Clashes between police and protesters killed at least three people. More than 300 others were reportedly arrested. | |
| Mr Maduro said the strike was minimal and that its leaders would be arrested. | Mr Maduro said the strike was minimal and that its leaders would be arrested. |
| Since April, when opposition protests intensified, almost 100 people have died across the country. | Since April, when opposition protests intensified, almost 100 people have died across the country. |
| Protesters barricaded roads in the capital, Caracas, and other cities with rubbish and furniture. The opposition said that 85% of the country joined the strike. | Protesters barricaded roads in the capital, Caracas, and other cities with rubbish and furniture. The opposition said that 85% of the country joined the strike. |
| But in pro-government areas of the capital, life went on as usual, with shops open and streets busy. Public employees also appeared to have worked normally. | But in pro-government areas of the capital, life went on as usual, with shops open and streets busy. Public employees also appeared to have worked normally. |
| In several cities, police fired tear gas as they clashed with protesters. One death was reported on the outskirts of Caracas while two others died in the northern city of Valencia. | In several cities, police fired tear gas as they clashed with protesters. One death was reported on the outskirts of Caracas while two others died in the northern city of Valencia. |
| More than 360 people had been arrested across the country, a local rights group said. | More than 360 people had been arrested across the country, a local rights group said. |
| Colombia, France, Spain, the US and the EU have urged the Venezuelan government to cancel the vote for a new constituent assembly on 30 July. | Colombia, France, Spain, the US and the EU have urged the Venezuelan government to cancel the vote for a new constituent assembly on 30 July. |
| But Mr Maduro has rejected the calls. | But Mr Maduro has rejected the calls. |
| In a speech on TV, he claimed "triumph", saying that key sectors had not joined the strike. | In a speech on TV, he claimed "triumph", saying that key sectors had not joined the strike. |
| "Work has triumphed, love, life, and hope; work has triumphed. They [the Venezuelan opposition] who have never worked, let them carry on not working, we are moving forward, comrades." | "Work has triumphed, love, life, and hope; work has triumphed. They [the Venezuelan opposition] who have never worked, let them carry on not working, we are moving forward, comrades." |
| "I've ordered the capture of all the fascist terrorists." | "I've ordered the capture of all the fascist terrorists." |
| The assembly would have the power to rewrite the constitution and to bypass the opposition-controlled legislature. | The assembly would have the power to rewrite the constitution and to bypass the opposition-controlled legislature. |
| Opposition politicians say Mr Maduro wants to use the assembly to entrench himself in power, while the president argues a new constitution will promote dialogue in the polarised country. | Opposition politicians say Mr Maduro wants to use the assembly to entrench himself in power, while the president argues a new constitution will promote dialogue in the polarised country. |
| The opposition have ramped up their schedule of protests in the days leading up to the elections, including Thursday's general 24-hour strike and a mass demonstration on Saturday. | The opposition have ramped up their schedule of protests in the days leading up to the elections, including Thursday's general 24-hour strike and a mass demonstration on Saturday. |
| Meanwhile, Isaias Medina, a senior diplomat representing the country at the UN, resigned, saying he could no longer represent the government because of human rights abuses. | Meanwhile, Isaias Medina, a senior diplomat representing the country at the UN, resigned, saying he could no longer represent the government because of human rights abuses. |
| Venezuela's ambassador to the UN, Rafael Ramirez, said Mr Medina had acted "dishonestly" and been fired. | Venezuela's ambassador to the UN, Rafael Ramirez, said Mr Medina had acted "dishonestly" and been fired. |
| Earlier, the head of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, warned of a "calamitous deterioration" of the situation, accusing Mr Maduro's government of having "blood on its hands". | Earlier, the head of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, warned of a "calamitous deterioration" of the situation, accusing Mr Maduro's government of having "blood on its hands". |
| "Behind every detainee, every political prisoner, every person tortured and every person killed there is someone that is institutionally responsible," Mr Almagro wrote in a report. | "Behind every detainee, every political prisoner, every person tortured and every person killed there is someone that is institutionally responsible," Mr Almagro wrote in a report. |
| "The fear that is on everyone's mind, but we are too afraid to speak out loud, is our fear that this will escalate into a bloodbath." | "The fear that is on everyone's mind, but we are too afraid to speak out loud, is our fear that this will escalate into a bloodbath." |
| Mr Almagro has long been one of the fiercest and most outspoken critics of the Venezuelan government. | Mr Almagro has long been one of the fiercest and most outspoken critics of the Venezuelan government. |
| Why is Venezuela in crisis? | Why is Venezuela in crisis? |
| More on Venezuela's turmoil | More on Venezuela's turmoil |