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Venezuelan police hunt opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez Venezuela opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez 'to attend march'
(about 7 hours later)
Venezuelan police have searched the houses of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez and his parents. Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez says he will lead a march through the streets of Caracas on Tuesday.
Mr Lopez, who has organised recent anti-government protests, has not been seen in public since Wednesday, when three men were shot dead at the end of opposition marches in Caracas. He was last seen on Wednesday, when three men were shot dead at the end of opposition protests in the capital.
An arrest warrant has been issued against him. In a video posted online, Mr Lopez says he has not committed any crime and challenges the authorities to arrest him during the Tuesday march.
President Nicolas Maduro has accused Mr Lopez of inciting violence as part of a coup plot. President Nicolas Maduro says an arrest warrant was issued against Mr Lopez shortly after the incidents.
Mr Lopez, 42, is a former mayor of the Chacao district, in eastern Caracas. Mr Maduro has accused Mr Lopez of inciting violence as part of a coup plot against his left-wing government.
He used his Twitter account to call on students to carry on with peaceful demonstrations. The opposition say they were killed by pro-government militias known as "colectivos".
"To the country and the students, who I've always admired and supported, the battle is in the streets, but without violence," he posted. Mr Lopez, 42, is a former mayor of Chacao district, in eastern Caracas. He organised the recent protests against the government.
He also sent a direct message to the Venezuelan president: "Maduro, you are a coward. You are not going to force me or my family to bow down.'' 'Dress white'
On Sunday morning, Venezuelan police searched the houses of Mr Lopez and his parents.
Hours later, he posted a new message on Twitter and a three-minute long video.
"I want to invite all of you to join me on a march on Thursday, from Venezuela Square [in central Caracas] towards the Justice Ministry building, which has become a symbol of repression, torture and lies," Mr Lopez said on the video.
He called on his supporters to dress white, "to reaffirm our commitment to peace".
"I will take very clear demands to the authorities: that the government involvement in the deaths of 12 February are investigated; that the students arrested [in protests in the last week] are freed; that the pro-government paramilitary groups are disarmed," he said.
"And finally, I will be there to show my face. I have nothing to fear. I have not committed any crime. If there is any order to illegally arrest me, well, I will be there," added Mr Lopez.
Earlier, also through Twitter, Mr Lopez sent a direct message to the Venezuelan president: "Maduro, you are a coward. You are not going to force me or my family to bow down.''
On Saturday, police clashed with a group of demonstrators at the end of an opposition march in the eastern neighbourhood of Chacao.On Saturday, police clashed with a group of demonstrators at the end of an opposition march in the eastern neighbourhood of Chacao.
They fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Activists hurled stones. More than 20 people were injured.They fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Activists hurled stones. More than 20 people were injured.
'Against fascism''Against fascism'
Thousands of government supporters also took to the streets of Caracas on Saturday in a march "for peace and against fascism".Thousands of government supporters also took to the streets of Caracas on Saturday in a march "for peace and against fascism".
Mr Maduro addressed the crowd and renewed accusations against the opposition.Mr Maduro addressed the crowd and renewed accusations against the opposition.
He accused Mr Lopez of ordering "all these violent kids, which he trained, to destroy the prosecutor's office, half of Caracas to then go into hiding".He accused Mr Lopez of ordering "all these violent kids, which he trained, to destroy the prosecutor's office, half of Caracas to then go into hiding".
On Saturday, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, issued a statement expressing concern by the rising tensions in Venezuela.On Saturday, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, issued a statement expressing concern by the rising tensions in Venezuela.
"We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protestors and issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez," read the statement."We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protestors and issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez," read the statement.
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.
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".
A former union leader, Mr Maduro was a close ally of President Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer last March after 14 years in office.A former union leader, Mr Maduro was a close ally of President Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer last March after 14 years in office.
He was elected last April, defeating the opposition candidate, Henrique Capriles, by a narrow margin.He was elected last April, defeating the opposition candidate, Henrique Capriles, by a narrow margin.