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| Venezuela: Pro and anti-Maduro marches go ahead in Caracas | Venezuela: Pro and anti-Maduro marches go ahead in Caracas |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Supporters and opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have taken to the streets of the capital, Caracas, in rival marches. | Supporters and opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have taken to the streets of the capital, Caracas, in rival marches. |
| The demonstrations come at a time of growing political tension in Venezuela. | The demonstrations come at a time of growing political tension in Venezuela. |
| Three people were killed during anti-government protests on Wednesday, and 100 students were arrested. | Three people were killed during anti-government protests on Wednesday, and 100 students were arrested. |
| Mr Maduro accused the opposition of stirring up trouble as part of a coup plot and urged his supporters to march for peace on Saturday. | Mr Maduro accused the opposition of stirring up trouble as part of a coup plot and urged his supporters to march for peace on Saturday. |
| The main opposition grievances are high inflation, crime and the shortage of some staples. | The main opposition grievances are high inflation, crime and the shortage of some staples. |
| They have denounced police brutality and blamed pro-government groups, known as "colectivos", for the deaths on Wednesday. | They have denounced police brutality and blamed pro-government groups, known as "colectivos", for the deaths on Wednesday. |
| But Venezuelan Prisons Minister Iris Varela has described the "colectivos" as "pillars in the defence of the nation". | |
| On Friday, students took to the streets again demanding the release of all the demonstrators arrested in the last week. | On Friday, students took to the streets again demanding the release of all the demonstrators arrested in the last week. |
| Mr Maduro called supporters to take part in a big demonstration "for peace and against fascism". | Mr Maduro called supporters to take part in a big demonstration "for peace and against fascism". |
| Government supporters began arriving Venezuela square, in central Caracas, in the morning. | Government supporters began arriving Venezuela square, in central Caracas, in the morning. |
| They were dressed predominantly in red or in Venezuela's national colours - blue, yellow and red. | They were dressed predominantly in red or in Venezuela's national colours - blue, yellow and red. |
| "The Venezuelan youth believe in peace. Violence is not the way. This is the answer to coup plots," student Ifrain Bastardo told El Nacional newspaper. | "The Venezuelan youth believe in peace. Violence is not the way. This is the answer to coup plots," student Ifrain Bastardo told El Nacional newspaper. |
| Meanwhile, opposition demonstrators, including a movement known as Mothers in White, gathered at Las Mercedes neighbourhood in eastern Caracas. | Meanwhile, opposition demonstrators, including a movement known as Mothers in White, gathered at Las Mercedes neighbourhood in eastern Caracas. |
| They are planning to hold hands and make a human chain from the square to the Courts of Justice building. | They are planning to hold hands and make a human chain from the square to the Courts of Justice building. |
| Student leader Enrique Altimari said the peaceful protest was aimed at paying "tribute to the victims". | Student leader Enrique Altimari said the peaceful protest was aimed at paying "tribute to the victims". |
| But he said the protest would end before night falls, to avoid a repeat of the incidents of Wednesday. | But he said the protest would end before night falls, to avoid a repeat of the incidents of Wednesday. |
| The three victims were shot dead by unknown gunmen as the opposition marches came to an end. | The three victims were shot dead by unknown gunmen as the opposition marches came to an end. |
| "The streets at night are not a safe place for us. We would not be achieving any goal and would only fall in the trap set up by violent pro-government groups," Mr Altimari said. | "The streets at night are not a safe place for us. We would not be achieving any goal and would only fall in the trap set up by violent pro-government groups," Mr Altimari said. |
| Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world and is deeply politically polarised. | Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world and is deeply politically polarised. |
| Mr Maduro was elected last April by a narrow margin, defeating the centre-right candidate, Henrique Capriles, who denounced electoral fraud. | Mr Maduro was elected last April by a narrow margin, defeating the centre-right candidate, Henrique Capriles, who denounced electoral fraud. |
| A former union leader, Mr Maduro was a close ally of late President Hugo Chavez who died of cancer in April after 14 years in office. | A former union leader, Mr Maduro was a close ally of late President Hugo Chavez who died of cancer in April after 14 years in office. |
| Mr Capriles blames the government's left-wing policies for the country's economic problems, including high inflation- 56.2% in 2013, according to official figures. | Mr Capriles blames the government's left-wing policies for the country's economic problems, including high inflation- 56.2% in 2013, according to official figures. |
| The government has blamed the shortages on "saboteurs" and "profit-hungry corrupt businessmen". | The government has blamed the shortages on "saboteurs" and "profit-hungry corrupt businessmen". |