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Police clash in Venezuela with anti-government protesters | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Riot police in Venezuela have clashed with anti-government demonstrators who were protesting against the arrest of two opposition mayors. | Riot police in Venezuela have clashed with anti-government demonstrators who were protesting against the arrest of two opposition mayors. |
Hundreds of demonstrators in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, threw stones and sticks at the police. | |
They responded with tear gas and water cannon. | |
The clashes came a day after Daniel Ceballos and Enzo Scarano were detained over their alleged role in weeks of unrest that has left 31 people dead. | The clashes came a day after Daniel Ceballos and Enzo Scarano were detained over their alleged role in weeks of unrest that has left 31 people dead. |
The government of President Nicolas Maduro has been the target of near-daily protests over the high murder rate, skyrocketing inflation and shortages of basic goods. | The government of President Nicolas Maduro has been the target of near-daily protests over the high murder rate, skyrocketing inflation and shortages of basic goods. |
He has blamed the violence on "fascist groups". | He has blamed the violence on "fascist groups". |
Juan Requesens, a student leader at the protest, said the two mayors were "victims of persecution, abuse, and wrongful arrest". | Juan Requesens, a student leader at the protest, said the two mayors were "victims of persecution, abuse, and wrongful arrest". |
Another demonstrator, Eusebio Acosta, said they were marching to "rebuild democracy" in Venezuela. | Another demonstrator, Eusebio Acosta, said they were marching to "rebuild democracy" in Venezuela. |
"The youth today have decided they're ready to give up their lives for the country, for freedom," he continued. | "The youth today have decided they're ready to give up their lives for the country, for freedom," he continued. |
Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez tried to distance the government from the arrests. | Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez tried to distance the government from the arrests. |
"It's important that Venezuelans understand that the bodies of the state, in this case not the government, act to protect the right of majorities, and not the rights of a small group that wants, under the guise of the right to protest, to mar the lives of Venezuelans," he said in a televised news conference. | "It's important that Venezuelans understand that the bodies of the state, in this case not the government, act to protect the right of majorities, and not the rights of a small group that wants, under the guise of the right to protest, to mar the lives of Venezuelans," he said in a televised news conference. |
'Critics silenced' | 'Critics silenced' |
On Wednesday, Venezuelan intelligence agents detained Daniel Ceballos of the Popular Will party on charges of inciting violence and fostering the protests. | On Wednesday, Venezuelan intelligence agents detained Daniel Ceballos of the Popular Will party on charges of inciting violence and fostering the protests. |
He is the mayor of San Cristobal, near the Colombian border, where the current wave of anti-government protests broke out six weeks ago. | He is the mayor of San Cristobal, near the Colombian border, where the current wave of anti-government protests broke out six weeks ago. |
He has been an outspoken critic of the tactics deployed by the security forces to police the protests, accusing them using excessive force. | He has been an outspoken critic of the tactics deployed by the security forces to police the protests, accusing them using excessive force. |
The authorities also arrested Enzo Scarano, the mayor of San Diego of the opposition MUD coalition. | The authorities also arrested Enzo Scarano, the mayor of San Diego of the opposition MUD coalition. |
He was sentenced to 10 months and 15 days in prison for failing to keep protesters from barricading streets in his northern city in Carabobo state. | He was sentenced to 10 months and 15 days in prison for failing to keep protesters from barricading streets in his northern city in Carabobo state. |
The opposition says the government is violently repressing the protests and trying to silence the administration's critics. | The opposition says the government is violently repressing the protests and trying to silence the administration's critics. |
For his part, President Maduro accuses them of planning a coup against his government. | For his part, President Maduro accuses them of planning a coup against his government. |
He says he has repeatedly invited them to the presidential palace for talks, but that they have refused to attend. | He says he has repeatedly invited them to the presidential palace for talks, but that they have refused to attend. |
Earlier this week the opposition leader Henrique Capriles agreed to meet the president, but no date has so far been set for the meeting. | Earlier this week the opposition leader Henrique Capriles agreed to meet the president, but no date has so far been set for the meeting. |
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