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Venezuelan security forces raid homes as part of manhunt for Leopoldo López Venezuelan security forces raid homes as part of manhunt for Leopoldo López
(35 minutes later)
Venezuelan security forces raided the homes of Leopoldo López and his parents, looking to arrest the hardline opposition leader who President Nicolás Maduro blames for three deaths at recent anti-government protests. Venezuelan security forces raided the homes of the opposition leader Leopoldo López and his parents, looking to arrest the man blamed by President Nicolás Maduro for three deaths at recent anti-government protests.
López, who hasn't been seen since a Wednesday night press conference, was not at either of the residences in Caracas's leafy eastern district when groups of national guardsmen and military intelligence officials arrived late at night. Aides said neighbours banged on pots and pans to protest what they consider an arbitrary detention order. López, who hasn't been seen since a press conference on Wednesday, was not at either of the homes in Caracas's leafy eastern district when groups of national guardsmen and military intelligence officials arrived late at night. Aides said neighbours banged on pots and pans to protest what they consider an arbitrary detention order.
"Maduro, you're a coward," López said in a message posted on Twitter after security forces left the premises early Sunday. "You're not going to force me or my family to bow down.""Maduro, you're a coward," López said in a message posted on Twitter after security forces left the premises early Sunday. "You're not going to force me or my family to bow down."
The midnight manhunt capped another night of protests during which security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a group of 500 students who have vowed to remain on the streets until all anti-government demonstrators are released. Authorities said 23 people were being treated for injuries, none of them life-threatening.The midnight manhunt capped another night of protests during which security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a group of 500 students who have vowed to remain on the streets until all anti-government demonstrators are released. Authorities said 23 people were being treated for injuries, none of them life-threatening.
Earlier on Saturday, Maduro said authorities were searching for the 42-year-old López, who he accuses of leading a US-backed "fascist" plot to oust him from power just two months after his party's candidates won mayoral elections by a landslide. Earlier on Saturday, Maduro said authorities were searching for the 42-year-old López, who he accuses of leading a US-backed "fascist" plot to oust him from power just two months after his party's candidates won mayoral elections by a landslide. López "ordered all these violent kids, who he trained, to destroy the prosecutor's office and half of Caracas and then goes into hiding," Maduro told thousands of supporters at a rally on Saturday. "Turn yourself in, coward."
López "ordered all these violent kids, who he trained, to destroy the prosecutor's office and half of Caracas and then goes into hiding," Maduro told thousands of supporters at a rally on Saturday. "Turn yourself in, coward."
López has vowed to press ahead with protests to force Maduro to give up power, blaming the socialist president for rampant crime, a 50% rise in inflation and worsening shortages of basic goods.López has vowed to press ahead with protests to force Maduro to give up power, blaming the socialist president for rampant crime, a 50% rise in inflation and worsening shortages of basic goods.
Still, he has called on Venezuelans to avoid violence and has said he had nothing to do with the clashes with police and pro-government militias that took place on Wednesday after the rally he helped organised against Maduro's 10-month-old government had concluded peacefully.Still, he has called on Venezuelans to avoid violence and has said he had nothing to do with the clashes with police and pro-government militias that took place on Wednesday after the rally he helped organised against Maduro's 10-month-old government had concluded peacefully.
US officials denied any plotting to oust Maduro and the secretary of state, John Kerry, expressed concern on Saturday over the rising tensions and violence surrounding the protests.US officials denied any plotting to oust Maduro and the secretary of state, John Kerry, expressed concern on Saturday over the rising tensions and violence surrounding the protests.
In a statement Kerry said: "We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protesters and issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo López. These actions have a chilling effect on citizens' rights to express their grievances peacefully."In a statement Kerry said: "We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protesters and issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo López. These actions have a chilling effect on citizens' rights to express their grievances peacefully."
Aides to López denied he is ducking arrest and say he remains in the country.Aides to López denied he is ducking arrest and say he remains in the country.
López, a Harvard-trained former mayor, is the most prominent of a group of hardliners who have challenged two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles for leadership of anti-Maduro movement.López, a Harvard-trained former mayor, is the most prominent of a group of hardliners who have challenged two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles for leadership of anti-Maduro movement.
In an apparent bid to dampen anti-government demonstrations, which have been held since Wednesday, Maduro said he had ordered the suspension of subway and bus service in the Chacao area of the capital where the protests are centered.In an apparent bid to dampen anti-government demonstrations, which have been held since Wednesday, Maduro said he had ordered the suspension of subway and bus service in the Chacao area of the capital where the protests are centered.
He said: "We can't have a moment of weakness, because we are trying to defeat a fascist movement that wants to end the country we have.He said: "We can't have a moment of weakness, because we are trying to defeat a fascist movement that wants to end the country we have.
For the past three days, student protesters had occupied the main highway through Caracas for several hours, blocking traffic to press their demands.For the past three days, student protesters had occupied the main highway through Caracas for several hours, blocking traffic to press their demands.
A student leader at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Juan Requesen, said: "We are not going to give in or kneel. We are going to continue in the streets, fighting for Venezuelans and the youths who want a democratic country, with free media that aren't censored or self-censored, with justice and equity." A student leader at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Juan Requesen, said: "We are not going to give in or kneel. We are going to continue in the streets, fighting for Venezuelans and the youths who want a democratic country, with free media that aren't censored or self-censored, with justice and equity."