Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended the country&#39;s state of &quot;economic emergency&quot; for another 60 days, an official newspaper reported, a sign of declining conditions in the crisis-hit country. 
 
The state of emergency, in place since January, was necessary due to &quot;extraordinary... social, economic, political, natural and ecological&quot; pressures, according to the presidential decree, signed by Maduro on Tuesday and released on Wednesday. 
 
The declaration allows the government to seize assets of private companies to obtain essential food and goods. 
 
It was the third time the state of economic emergency has been extended. 
 
In May, Maduro declared a general state of emergency, broadening the scope of the economic emergency degree and allowing security units to tackle food and energy shortages and public unrest. 
 
Maduro is trying to cling to power and avert the total collapse of his oil-dependent country. 
 
This week, he greatly boosted the authority of his defense minister, making him responsible for distributing food, medicine and basic goods. The armed forces have also taken control of Venezuela&#39;s five main seaports. 
 
Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, said on Wednesday that Maduro&#39;s decision to turn key government functions over to the military is &quot;not normal.&quot; 
 
An estimated 80 per cent of food items, medicines and other basics are in short supply in Venezuela. Inflation hit 180 per cent last year and the IMF has forecast it at 720 per cent this year. 
 
Critics say the problem stems from the leftist government&#39;s model of tight grips on the economy and currency controls in place since 2003. 
 
Maduro says he is being targeted by US interests and local business elites bent on stoking grassroots anger and removing him from power. 
 
The Venezuelan opposition launched efforts to remove the president after winning control of the legislature in January. 
 
But Maduro has challenged his rivals through the Supreme Court, which they accuse him of controlling. 
 
(AFP)

The declaration allows the government to seize assets of private companies to obtain essential food and goods

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended the country's state of "economic emergency" for another 60 days, an official newspaper reported, a sign of declining conditions in the crisis-hit country. The state of emergency, in place since January, was necessary due to "extraordinary... social, economic, political, natural and ecological" pressures, according to the presidential decree, signed by Maduro on Tuesday and released on Wednesday. The declaration allows the government to seize assets of private companies to obtain essential food and goods. It was the third time the state of economic emergency has been extended. In May, Maduro declared a general state of emergency, broadening the scope of the economic emergency degree and allowing security units to tackle food and energy shortages and public unrest. Maduro is trying to cling to power and avert the total collapse of his oil-dependent country. This week, he greatly boosted the authority of his defense minister, making him responsible for distributing food, medicine and basic goods. The armed forces have also taken control of Venezuela's five main seaports. Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, said on Wednesday that Maduro's decision to turn key government functions over to the military is "not normal." An estimated 80 per cent of food items, medicines and other basics are in short supply in Venezuela. Inflation hit 180 per cent last year and the IMF has forecast it at 720 per cent this year. Critics say the problem stems from the leftist government's model of tight grips on the economy and currency controls in place since 2003. Maduro says he is being targeted by US interests and local business elites bent on stoking grassroots anger and removing him from power. The Venezuelan opposition launched efforts to remove the president after winning control of the legislature in January. But Maduro has challenged his rivals through the Supreme Court, which they accuse him of controlling. (AFP)

Maduro extends Venezuela's state of emergency for another 60 days

Venezuelan police have arrested hundreds of people as the country&#39;s food crisis erupted into deadly looting this week, heightening hardship and political uncertainty in the impoverished oil-producing nation. 
 
Dozens of bakeries, supermarkets and hardware shops were looted on Tuesday in the eastern city of Cumana, the latest flashpoint in a crisis that has killed at least four people so far. 
 
&quot;It ended in total ruin because the businesses had not only their stock pillaged but also their furniture. It was total destruction,&quot; said Ruben Saud, president of the Cumana Chamber of Commerce. 
 
The chaos started when gangs of looters on motorcycles raided trucks transporting food, witnesses said. 
 
The governor of Sucre state, where Cumana is located, told state television channel VTV that &quot;more than 400 people&quot; were arrested, including three suspected gang leaders involved in the looting. 
 
Arrests have also been reported in other towns. 
 
Blaming the opposition 
 
The opposition blames President Nicolas Maduro for an economic crisis in which Venezuelans are suffering shortages of basic foods and goods. 
 
Maduro in turn blames the crisis on an &quot;economic war&quot; allegedly waged against his leftist government by the business elite. 
 
He accuses the opposition of fomenting unrest to spark a foreign intervention to unseat him. 
 
Maduro is resisting efforts from his centre-right opponents to remove him from office through a referendum, and warned he will not tolerate violence. 
 
Late Thursday he announced his latest challenge to the opposition-controlled National Assembly. 
 
He called on the Supreme Court to launch proceedings against the legislature for abusing its powers. 
 
Maduro&#39;s ally in Sucre, Acuna, on Thursday accused the opposition of &quot;sowing paramilitary values, such as hate and crime, in some citizens.&quot; 
 
The army was sent in to keep order in Cumana after Tuesday&#39;s outbreak of looting, which erupted during a protest against food shortages. 
 
Acuna said Cumana &quot;has been returning to normal&quot; since. 
 
Elsewhere, a 17-year-old boy died after being wounded at a similar protest Wednesday in the western town of Lagunilla, authorities said. 
 
Motorcycle raiders 
 
Venezuela is suffering an economic crisis brought on by the plunge in global crude prices over the past two years. The country is heavily dependant on its oil exports. 
 
At least four people have died in disturbances in recent days, according to the state prosecution service. 
 
A soldier and a police officer were detained over two of the deaths, authorities said. 
 
Human rights groups put the death toll from the latest wave of unrest at five, including a 42-year-old man they say died during the disturbances in Cumana. 
 
There &quot;most of the looting was organized by motorcycle gangs. Then the local people followed,&quot; said Estelin Kristen, leader of rights group Incide. 
 
The Venezuelan Social Conflict Observatory recorded more than 250 looting incidents across the country in the first five months of the year. The number peaked in May. 
 
Food deliveries 
 
Under emergency measures already in place, civilian groups have been assigned to hand out food rations door to door. 
 
The opposition however says that the system favors Maduro&#39;s supporters. 
 
The president has warned that he may decree emergency measures if confronted with actions amounting to a &quot;violent coup.&quot; 
 
Such measures would likely prevent the recall referendum taking place. 
 
Rafael Uzcategui of human rights group Provea warned that the president&#39;s inflexibility could result in even worse tensions if he blocks the recall vote. 
 
&quot;What is currently preventing a general explosion of social unrest is the possibility that people can make their voices heard by means such as a referendum,&quot; he told AFP. 
 
&quot;Not allowing a referendum would unleash a very serious situation.&quot; 
(AFP)

Gangs of looters on motorcycles raided trucks transporting food, opposition blamed President Nicolas Maduro for the economic crisis

Venezuelan police have arrested hundreds of people as the country's food crisis erupted into deadly looting this week, heightening hardship and political uncertainty in the impoverished oil-producing nation. Dozens of bakeries, supermarkets and hardware shops were looted on Tuesday in the eastern city of Cumana, the latest flashpoint in a crisis that has killed at least four people so far. "It ended in total ruin because the businesses had not only their stock pillaged but also their furniture. It was total destruction," said Ruben Saud, president of the Cumana Chamber of Commerce. The chaos started when gangs of looters on motorcycles raided trucks transporting food, witnesses said. The governor of Sucre state, where Cumana is located, told state television channel VTV that "more than 400 people" were arrested, including three suspected gang leaders involved in the looting. Arrests have also been reported in other towns. Blaming the opposition The opposition blames President Nicolas Maduro for an economic crisis in which Venezuelans are suffering shortages of basic foods and goods. Maduro in turn blames the crisis on an "economic war" allegedly waged against his leftist government by the business elite. He accuses the opposition of fomenting unrest to spark a foreign intervention to unseat him. Maduro is resisting efforts from his centre-right opponents to remove him from office through a referendum, and warned he will not tolerate violence. Late Thursday he announced his latest challenge to the opposition-controlled National Assembly. He called on the Supreme Court to launch proceedings against the legislature for abusing its powers. Maduro's ally in Sucre, Acuna, on Thursday accused the opposition of "sowing paramilitary values, such as hate and crime, in some citizens." The army was sent in to keep order in Cumana after Tuesday's outbreak of looting, which erupted during a protest against food shortages. Acuna said Cumana "has been returning to normal" since. Elsewhere, a 17-year-old boy died after being wounded at a similar protest Wednesday in the western town of Lagunilla, authorities said. Motorcycle raiders Venezuela is suffering an economic crisis brought on by the plunge in global crude prices over the past two years. The country is heavily dependant on its oil exports. At least four people have died in disturbances in recent days, according to the state prosecution service. A soldier and a police officer were detained over two of the deaths, authorities said. Human rights groups put the death toll from the latest wave of unrest at five, including a 42-year-old man they say died during the disturbances in Cumana. There "most of the looting was organized by motorcycle gangs. Then the local people followed," said Estelin Kristen, leader of rights group Incide. The Venezuelan Social Conflict Observatory recorded more than 250 looting incidents across the country in the first five months of the year. The number peaked in May. Food deliveries Under emergency measures already in place, civilian groups have been assigned to hand out food rations door to door. The opposition however says that the system favors Maduro's supporters. The president has warned that he may decree emergency measures if confronted with actions amounting to a "violent coup." Such measures would likely prevent the recall referendum taking place. Rafael Uzcategui of human rights group Provea warned that the president's inflexibility could result in even worse tensions if he blocks the recall vote. "What is currently preventing a general explosion of social unrest is the possibility that people can make their voices heard by means such as a referendum," he told AFP. "Not allowing a referendum would unleash a very serious situation." (AFP)

Deaths, arrests as looting erupts in Venezuela

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