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Tension in Venezuela as rival rallies set off in Caracas Venezuela protest leader Lopez hands himself in
(35 minutes later)
Pro- and anti-government protesters are taking part in rival rallies in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has handed himself over to the National Guard, witnesses say.
An opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, has said he will lead the anti-government march before handing himself in to the authorities, as he is wanted on charges of inciting violence. It comes as pro- and anti-government protesters take part in rival rallies in the capital, Caracas.
Government supporters are gathered for a counter rally in central Caracas. Mr Lopez, who is wanted on charges of inciting violence, had said he would lead the anti-government march before handing himself in to the authorities.
Tensions have been running high in the deeply polarised country; at least three people have died in clashes.Tensions have been running high in the deeply polarised country; at least three people have died in clashes.
The three, two anti-government protesters and one government supporter, died of bullet wounds sustained during demonstrations last Wednesday. The three - two anti-government protesters and one government supporter - died of bullet wounds sustained during demonstrations last Wednesday.
Participants in a protest in the eastern city of Carupano said another student was killed when he was run over by a car during a march on Monday night.Participants in a protest in the eastern city of Carupano said another student was killed when he was run over by a car during a march on Monday night.
Ahead of the rallies, Caracas Mayor Jorge Rodriguez warned that he had not authorised Tuesday's opposition march in Caracas. Mr Lopez got into an armoured vehicle after giving a speech to an opposition rally in Caracas to give himself in on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Ahead of the rallies, Caracas Mayor Jorge Rodriguez warned that he had not authorised Tuesday's opposition march.
Police and members of the National Guard are out in force. Opposition activists have accused them of trying to prevent them from attending the anti-government rally.Police and members of the National Guard are out in force. Opposition activists have accused them of trying to prevent them from attending the anti-government rally.
The anti-government demonstration was called by Mr Lopez, leader of the opposition Popular Will party and former mayor of Chacao district in eastern Caracas.The anti-government demonstration was called by Mr Lopez, leader of the opposition Popular Will party and former mayor of Chacao district in eastern Caracas.
Conspiracy allegationsConspiracy allegations
Mr Lopez urged his supporters to join the march but asked them to stop short of the Interior Ministry, which is located in a pro-government area of Caracas and where he is planning to hand in a petition. Earlier, he urged his supporters to join the march but asked them to stop short of the Interior Ministry, which is located in a pro-government area of Caracas and where he was planning to hand in a petition.
"I will walk alone. I won't put any Venezuelan lives at risk. Go Venezuela!" he wrote on Twitter."I will walk alone. I won't put any Venezuelan lives at risk. Go Venezuela!" he wrote on Twitter.
In a video statement released on Sunday, he said he had not committed any crime and insisted allegations that he had incited violence were untrue.In a video statement released on Sunday, he said he had not committed any crime and insisted allegations that he had incited violence were untrue.
He also said he would hand himself in at the end of Tuesday's march. He also promised to hand himself in at the end of Tuesday's march.
"If there is a decision to legally throw me in jail I'll submit myself to this persecution," he said. "If there is a decision to legally throw me in jail, I'll submit myself to this persecution," he said.
The BBC's Irene Caselli in Caracas says thousands of people - many wearing white and holding Venezuelan flags - have gathered in the east of the city in support of Mr Lopez.
He had been expected to join the march and lead it towards the Interior Ministry.
But that side of the city is now full of crowds of rival demonstrators and oil workers wearing red, our correspondent adds.
The US state department earlier denied that it was helping to organise the anti-government protests.The US state department earlier denied that it was helping to organise the anti-government protests.
"The allegation that the United States is helping to organise protesters in Venezuela is baseless and false," spokeswoman Jan Psaki said."The allegation that the United States is helping to organise protesters in Venezuela is baseless and false," spokeswoman Jan Psaki said.
Her statement came a day after Venezuela announced it would expel three US diplomats for allegedly meeting students who had been leading marches.Her statement came a day after Venezuela announced it would expel three US diplomats for allegedly meeting students who had been leading marches.
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".