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Venezuela opposition's Leopoldo Lopez hands himself in | Venezuela opposition's Leopoldo Lopez hands himself in |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A Venezuelan opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, has handed himself over to the National Guard after holding a speech to thousands of his supporters. | A Venezuelan opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, has handed himself over to the National Guard after holding a speech to thousands of his supporters. |
He said he hoped his arrest would wake up the country to its "unjust justice". | He said he hoped his arrest would wake up the country to its "unjust justice". |
It comes as several thousand of pro- and anti-government supporters took part in tense rival rallies in the capital, Caracas. | It comes as several thousand of pro- and anti-government supporters took part in tense rival rallies in the capital, Caracas. |
Mr Lopez was wanted on charges of inciting violence during recent street protests which left at least four dead. | Mr Lopez was wanted on charges of inciting violence during recent street protests which left at least four dead. |
Speaking before thousands of his supporters wearing red, President Nicolas Maduro said Mr Lopez would be brought to Justice. | Speaking before thousands of his supporters wearing red, President Nicolas Maduro said Mr Lopez would be brought to Justice. |
'Sedition' | 'Sedition' |
"He must answer before the prosecution, the courts, the laws his calls to sedition, his unawareness of the constitution," Mr Maduro told the crowd. | "He must answer before the prosecution, the courts, the laws his calls to sedition, his unawareness of the constitution," Mr Maduro told the crowd. |
Tensions have been running high in the deeply polarised country. | Tensions have been running high in the deeply polarised country. |
Three of the dead - two anti-government protesters and one government supporter - died of bullet wounds sustained during demonstrations last Wednesday. | Three of the dead - two anti-government protesters and one government supporter - died of bullet wounds sustained during demonstrations last Wednesday. |
Another student died after being ran over during a march on Monday night in the eastern city of Carupano. | Another student died after being ran over during a march on Monday night in the eastern city of Carupano. |
Before handing himself over to the authorities, Mr Lopez denied the charges against him. | Before handing himself over to the authorities, Mr Lopez denied the charges against him. |
"I present myself to an unjust judiciary. They want to jail Venezuelans who want peaceful, democratic change," he said. | "I present myself to an unjust judiciary. They want to jail Venezuelans who want peaceful, democratic change," he said. |
Ahead of the rallies, Caracas Mayor Jorge Rodriguez warned that he had not authorised Tuesday's opposition march. | 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 were out in force. Opposition activists have accused the authorities of trying to prevent them from attending the anti-government rally. | Police and members of the National Guard were out in force. Opposition activists have accused the authorities 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 allegations | Conspiracy allegations |
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. | 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. |
The BBC's Irene Caselli in Caracas says thousands of people - many wearing white and holding Venezuelan flags - gathered in the east of the city in support of Mr Lopez. | The BBC's Irene Caselli in Caracas says thousands of people - many wearing white and holding Venezuelan flags - gathered in the east of the city in support of Mr Lopez. |
Government supporters wearing red held a rival march and headed to the presidential palace for the meeting with President Maduro. | Government supporters wearing red held a rival march and headed to the presidential palace for the meeting with President Maduro. |
It appears Mr Lopez took the decision not to lead his supporters into the path of the pro-government protesters, our correspondent adds. | It appears Mr Lopez took the decision not to lead his supporters into the path of the pro-government protesters, our correspondent adds. |
In a video statement released on Sunday, Mr Lopez said he had not committed any crime and insisted allegations that he had incited violence were untrue. | In a video statement released on Sunday, Mr Lopez said he had not committed any crime and insisted allegations that he had incited violence were untrue. |
The US state department earlier denied claims that it was helping to organise the anti-government protests. | The US state department earlier denied claims 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 Jen 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". |