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Venezuela: Rival marches in Caracas mark month of protests | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Venezuelan government supporters and opposition demonstrators have filled the streets of Caracas in rival marches marking one month since the current protest movement began. | |
President Nicolas Maduro invited supporters to celebrate peace, saying a right-wing plot had been neutralised. | President Nicolas Maduro invited supporters to celebrate peace, saying a right-wing plot had been neutralised. |
An opposition march in eastern Caracas denounced police brutality and the economic crisis. | An opposition march in eastern Caracas denounced police brutality and the economic crisis. |
At least 22 people have been killed in a month of political unrest. | At least 22 people have been killed in a month of political unrest. |
"We have faced a coup and neutralised it," Mr Maduro said this week. | |
Predominantly dressed in white, thousands of opposition demonstrators marched through the streets of eastern Caracas - an anti-government stronghold - on Wednesday. They called for the release of dozens of jailed activists. | |
Many students have been subjected to torture since the protests began, the opposition says. | |
At the end of the march, activists threw stones and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas. Several people were injured. | |
There were demonstrations in other Venezuelan cities. | |
First protests | |
The protests started in the western states of Merida and Tachira at the beginning of February, with demonstrators asking for more security in the region. | The protests started in the western states of Merida and Tachira at the beginning of February, with demonstrators asking for more security in the region. |
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested. | Dozens of demonstrators were arrested. |
Three people were shot dead in Caracas in renewed marches on 12 February demanding that students and other detained activists be freed. | Three people were shot dead in Caracas in renewed marches on 12 February demanding that students and other detained activists be freed. |
Daily anti-government protests have been held ever since. | Daily anti-government protests have been held ever since. |
The government and the opposition have traded accusations over the killings. | The government and the opposition have traded accusations over the killings. |
Victims include opposition demonstrators, policemen, government supporters and other people caught up in the violence. | Victims include opposition demonstrators, policemen, government supporters and other people caught up in the violence. |
Chavez legacy | |
Government supporters, wearing mostly red, sang and danced through the streets of central Caracas in a "march for peace". | Government supporters, wearing mostly red, sang and danced through the streets of central Caracas in a "march for peace". |
"They want to create a false image, to say that the country is in a bad state, but that is not the case," government supporter Marcos Alcayo told Reuters at the march. | "They want to create a false image, to say that the country is in a bad state, but that is not the case," government supporter Marcos Alcayo told Reuters at the march. |
"Before Chavez no-one had anything we have now: access to public health, education and food." | "Before Chavez no-one had anything we have now: access to public health, education and food." |
Hugo Chavez died of cancer a year ago after more than 14 years in office. | Hugo Chavez died of cancer a year ago after more than 14 years in office. |
A new presidential election was held last April. Mr Chavez's preferred successor, Mr Maduro, defeated opposition leader Henrique Capriles by a narrow margin. | |
One of the protest leaders, opposition legislator Maria Corina Machado, told the BBC's James Menendez that Venezuela was increasingly united behind the idea of regime change. | |
"A change of government as soon as possible: that is what we are proposing, very clearly," said Ms Corina. | "A change of government as soon as possible: that is what we are proposing, very clearly," said Ms Corina. |
But she denied that replacing a democratically elected government amounted to a coup: "We want to go forward, but in the umbrella of our constitution and by pacific means." | |
Mr Maduro says right-wing sectors in the United States, Venezuela and other countries in Latin America are behind a coup plot. | Mr Maduro says right-wing sectors in the United States, Venezuela and other countries in Latin America are behind a coup plot. |
Last week Venezuela expelled the Panamanian ambassador and three other diplomats after accusing them of conspiring to bring down his government. | Last week Venezuela expelled the Panamanian ambassador and three other diplomats after accusing them of conspiring to bring down his government. |
Regional leaders gathered in Chile for a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) say they will be looking for a solution to the crisis in Venezuela. | Regional leaders gathered in Chile for a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) say they will be looking for a solution to the crisis in Venezuela. |