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Venezuela: Rival marches in Caracas mark month of protests Venezuela protests: Three killed in fresh unrest
(about 2 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. Three people have died in fresh protests in Venezuela, this time in the central city of Valencia.
President Nicolas Maduro invited supporters to celebrate peace, saying a right-wing plot had been neutralised. A policeman and two other men were shot dead in separate incidents.
An opposition march in eastern Caracas denounced police brutality and the economic crisis. In Caracas, Venezuelan government supporters and opposition demonstrators took to the streets to hold rival marches.
At least 22 people have been killed in a month of political unrest. The marches mark one month since the current protest movement began - on 12 February. Twenty-five people are now known to have died.
"We have faced a coup and neutralised it," Mr Maduro said this week. The opposition mayor of Valencia, Miguel Cocchiola, said that the city had seen several incidents of violence during the day.
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. A 42-year old man, Guillermo Sanchez, was painting his house when he was shot in the head by pro-government militias passing on motorbikes, said Mr Cocchiola.
Many students have been subjected to torture since the protests began, the opposition says. Student Jesus Enrique Acosta, 20, was also killed in Valencia. Mr Cocchiola said Mr Acosta was also shot dead by the government groups, known as "colectivos".
At the end of the march, activists threw stones and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas. Several people were injured. The other victim was army captain Ernesto Bravo Bracho. The government said he was killed by "criminal terrorists".
There were demonstrations in other Venezuelan cities. Meanwhile, opposition demonstrators marched through the streets of eastern Caracas - an anti-government stronghold - denouncing police brutality and the economic crisis.
First protests They called for the release of dozens of jailed activists.
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. At the end of the protests, activists threw stones and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas. Several people were injured.
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested. There were demonstrations in several other Venezuelan cities.
Three people were shot dead in Caracas in renewed marches on 12 February demanding that students and other detained activists be freed. Elsewhere in the capital, thousands of government supporters joined President Nicolas Maduro in a "march for peace".
Daily anti-government protests have been held ever since. Mr Maduro said this week that he had managed to defeat a plot to bring down his government. saying a right-wing plot had been neutralised.
The government and the opposition have traded accusations over the killings. "Before Chavez no-one had anything we have now: access to public health, education and food," government supporter Marcos Alcayo told Reuters at the march.
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".
"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."
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.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.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."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. 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.
Three people were shot dead in Caracas in renewed marches on 12 February demanding that students and other detained activists be freed.
The government and the opposition have traded accusations over the killings. Daily protests and frequent pro-government demonstrations have been held ever since.