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| Venezuelan officials killed amid tense election for assembly | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A candidate in Sunday's assembly elections and an opposition activist have been killed in Venezuela. | A candidate in Sunday's assembly elections and an opposition activist have been killed in Venezuela. |
| The killings took place before voting started to elect a new assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution. | The killings took place before voting started to elect a new assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution. |
| The opposition says it is a power grab by President Nicolás Maduro and is boycotting the vote. | The opposition says it is a power grab by President Nicolás Maduro and is boycotting the vote. |
| The government says the constituent assembly is the only way to bring peace back to the country after months of violent protests. | The government says the constituent assembly is the only way to bring peace back to the country after months of violent protests. |
| José Felix Pineda, a 39-year-old lawyer running in the election, was shot in his home on Saturday night local time, a senior Venezuelan minister said. | José Felix Pineda, a 39-year-old lawyer running in the election, was shot in his home on Saturday night local time, a senior Venezuelan minister said. |
| Ricardo Campos, a youth secretary with the opposition Acción Democrática party, was shot dead during a protest, the head of the national assembly said. | Ricardo Campos, a youth secretary with the opposition Acción Democrática party, was shot dead during a protest, the head of the national assembly said. |
| The El Nacional newspaper said 10 people had been killed across Venezuela in the past 24 hours. | The El Nacional newspaper said 10 people had been killed across Venezuela in the past 24 hours. |
| El Universal reported at least three other men were killed in protests in Merida, in the west of the country. | El Universal reported at least three other men were killed in protests in Merida, in the west of the country. |
| Protests have continued in defiance of a ban on them taking place. An explosion near one demonstration in Caracas injured several police officers and set a number of their motorbikes on fire. | |
| The security forces have used armoured vehicles to dispel protesters in the Caracas district of El Paraíso amid the sound of gunfire, AFP says, citing local reports. | The security forces have used armoured vehicles to dispel protesters in the Caracas district of El Paraíso amid the sound of gunfire, AFP says, citing local reports. |
| Why is the assembly election happening? | Why is the assembly election happening? |
| "Even if they win today, this won't last long," opposition supporter Berta Hernandez, a 60-year-old doctor, told Reuters in Caracas. "I'll continue on the streets because, not long from now, this will come to an end." | "Even if they win today, this won't last long," opposition supporter Berta Hernandez, a 60-year-old doctor, told Reuters in Caracas. "I'll continue on the streets because, not long from now, this will come to an end." |
| Mr Maduro cast his own ballot shortly after polling stations opened at 06:00 (10:00 GMT). | Mr Maduro cast his own ballot shortly after polling stations opened at 06:00 (10:00 GMT). |
| In a televised speech, the president predicted a "big victory", calling the vote "the most important election held in Venezuela's political system". | |
| However, electoral council chief Tibisay Lucena acknowledged that some voting machines had been attacked and burned in parts of the country. | However, electoral council chief Tibisay Lucena acknowledged that some voting machines had been attacked and burned in parts of the country. |
| Analysis: No closer to peace | Analysis: No closer to peace |
| Will Grant, BBC News, Caracas | Will Grant, BBC News, Caracas |
| Here in the capital, voting has got under way peacefully in many neighbourhoods but the election is unfolding amid a tense atmosphere. | Here in the capital, voting has got under way peacefully in many neighbourhoods but the election is unfolding amid a tense atmosphere. |
| In traditional opposition-controlled areas, the streets are largely empty with many thoroughfares closed by local citizens erecting barricades of wood, glass, scrap metal and barbed wire. | In traditional opposition-controlled areas, the streets are largely empty with many thoroughfares closed by local citizens erecting barricades of wood, glass, scrap metal and barbed wire. |
| For his part, Nicolás Maduro was among the first to vote, casting his ballot before sunrise. He and his supporters claim a vote for the new assembly is a step closer to peace. | For his part, Nicolás Maduro was among the first to vote, casting his ballot before sunrise. He and his supporters claim a vote for the new assembly is a step closer to peace. |
| But with the opposition boycotting the vote, with the security forces in riot gear and with sporadic clashes on the streets, it feels like anything but. | But with the opposition boycotting the vote, with the security forces in riot gear and with sporadic clashes on the streets, it feels like anything but. |
| Four months of protests against Mr Maduro and his plans for the assembly have left more than 100 people dead. | Four months of protests against Mr Maduro and his plans for the assembly have left more than 100 people dead. |
| The election has been heavily criticised by other Latin American countries as well as the European Union and the United States, which last week imposed new sanctions on members of Mr Maduro's government. | The election has been heavily criticised by other Latin American countries as well as the European Union and the United States, which last week imposed new sanctions on members of Mr Maduro's government. |
| Venezuela, a major oil producer, is gripped by a political crisis, with soaring inflation and daily food shortages. | Venezuela, a major oil producer, is gripped by a political crisis, with soaring inflation and daily food shortages. |
| Many residents in Caracas were stocking up on essential items on Saturday in case unrest left shops closed into Monday, correspondents said. | Many residents in Caracas were stocking up on essential items on Saturday in case unrest left shops closed into Monday, correspondents said. |