Doctors rallied in Venezuela Monday in the latest street protests against President Nicolas Maduro, as a young man lay in hospital after being set on fire by an angry crowd.

Three people were killed in violent riots in late president Hugo Chavez&#39;s home state of Barinas, bringing the death toll to 51 as the unrest entered its eighth week, the public prosecution service said.

One of the victims was a 19-year-old man who died from gunshot wounds. An AFP reporter saw demonstrators burn a government office and a police car in the western town of Barinas in the state of the same name.

Fresh clashes also broke out between protesters and police on the outskirts of Caracas, where demonstrators blocked streets with barricades.

After marches by various civil groups, it was the turn of the Venezuelan Medical Federation to vent its frustrations in the streets.

About 20,000 thousand of its sympathisers marched towards the health ministry in Caracas. Police fired tear gas to drive them back, in scenes that have become familiar after weeks of unrest.

&quot;The country is verging on catastrophe. The health system is a disaster,&quot; said Fernando Gudayol, a 50-year-old surgeon.

&quot;One is always afraid to come out, but we will carry on doing it until there is a change.&quot;

&nbsp;

Pro-government counter-rally

The opposition is demanding elections to remove Maduro from power. They blame him for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food, medicine and basic supplies.

&quot;A simple infection can turn into something serious for a lack of antibiotics and any kind of supplies, and for a lack of maintenance of the equipment,&quot; said Eliecer Melear, a 41-year-old urologist.

Maduro&#39;s supporters staged a counter-demonstration near the presidential palace.

&quot;What lack of medicine?&quot; asked medical student Rangel Vegas, 31. &quot;We are in the streets and in the clinics giving a response to what communities need.&quot;

Maduro&#39;s government repeated its claim that it was targeted by an international conspiracy. The government side &quot;is the victim of political and ideological persecution in Venezuela and internationally,&quot; Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez told a news conference.

Maduro earlier called for a further &quot;march for peace&quot; on Tuesday.

&nbsp;

Man set alight

Maduro accuses the opposition of plotting a coup against him with US backing. He says the crisis is a capitalist conspiracy.

The government and opposition accuse each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the demonstrations.

On Sunday, a man was beaten, doused in petrol and set alight during a protest in the capital Caracas.

The government alleged he was attacked for being a Maduro supporter. Speaking on television, the president identified the man as Orlando Figuera, 21.

He said Figuera was hospitalised with first- and second-degree burns over half of his body and six knife wounds.

- Opposition risks &#39;losing steam&#39; -

Elected in 2013, Maduro has resisted opposition efforts to remove him since January 2016.

He has said there will be presidential elections as scheduled next year, but not before.

Instead, he has angered the opposition by seeking constitutional reforms, which his rivals say aim to strengthen his grip on power.

Maduro retains the public backing of the military and control of most state institutions.

Street protests and international pressure &quot;could lead to divisions within the government or within the armed forces or between the government and the armed forces,&quot; said David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America, a nongovernmental organisation.

But he added: &quot;It is hard to keep protest waves going. People have to work, study, eat and live their lives. The opposition needs to think about how to consolidate their gains. Otherwise, this movement too could lose steam.&quot;

(AFP)

The death toll has reached 51 after eight weeks of unrest as the country wrestles with economic turmoil

Doctors rallied in Venezuela Monday in the latest street protests against President Nicolas Maduro, as a young man lay in hospital after being set on fire by an angry crowd. Three people were killed in violent riots in late president Hugo Chavez's home state of Barinas, bringing the death toll to 51 as the unrest entered its eighth week, the public prosecution service said. One of the victims was a 19-year-old man who died from gunshot wounds. An AFP reporter saw demonstrators burn a government office and a police car in the western town of Barinas in the state of the same name. Fresh clashes also broke out between protesters and police on the outskirts of Caracas, where demonstrators blocked streets with barricades. After marches by various civil groups, it was the turn of the Venezuelan Medical Federation to vent its frustrations in the streets. About 20,000 thousand of its sympathisers marched towards the health ministry in Caracas. Police fired tear gas to drive them back, in scenes that have become familiar after weeks of unrest. "The country is verging on catastrophe. The health system is a disaster," said Fernando Gudayol, a 50-year-old surgeon. "One is always afraid to come out, but we will carry on doing it until there is a change." Pro-government counter-rally The opposition is demanding elections to remove Maduro from power. They blame him for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food, medicine and basic supplies. "A simple infection can turn into something serious for a lack of antibiotics and any kind of supplies, and for a lack of maintenance of the equipment," said Eliecer Melear, a 41-year-old urologist. Maduro's supporters staged a counter-demonstration near the presidential palace. "What lack of medicine?" asked medical student Rangel Vegas, 31. "We are in the streets and in the clinics giving a response to what communities need." Maduro's government repeated its claim that it was targeted by an international conspiracy. The government side "is the victim of political and ideological persecution in Venezuela and internationally," Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez told a news conference. Maduro earlier called for a further "march for peace" on Tuesday. Man set alight Maduro accuses the opposition of plotting a coup against him with US backing. He says the crisis is a capitalist conspiracy. The government and opposition accuse each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the demonstrations. On Sunday, a man was beaten, doused in petrol and set alight during a protest in the capital Caracas. The government alleged he was attacked for being a Maduro supporter. Speaking on television, the president identified the man as Orlando Figuera, 21. He said Figuera was hospitalised with first- and second-degree burns over half of his body and six knife wounds. - Opposition risks 'losing steam' - Elected in 2013, Maduro has resisted opposition efforts to remove him since January 2016. He has said there will be presidential elections as scheduled next year, but not before. Instead, he has angered the opposition by seeking constitutional reforms, which his rivals say aim to strengthen his grip on power. Maduro retains the public backing of the military and control of most state institutions. Street protests and international pressure "could lead to divisions within the government or within the armed forces or between the government and the armed forces," said David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America, a nongovernmental organisation. But he added: "It is hard to keep protest waves going. People have to work, study, eat and live their lives. The opposition needs to think about how to consolidate their gains. Otherwise, this movement too could lose steam." (AFP)

Fresh Venezuela clashes after man set alight

A 17-year-old boy and two men died in Venezuela after being shot during anti-government protests, prosecutors said Tuesday, bringing to 42 the number of people killed in six weeks of unrest.

The latest deaths made the recent wave of clashes almost as deadly as the last such disturbances in 2014, when 43 people were killed in anti-government protests.

&quot;They cannot go on killing and torturing people, and getting away with it,&quot; said Organization of American States chief Luis Almagro, one of Maduro&#39;s harshest international critics. &nbsp;

The UN Security Council will discuss the crisis in Venezuela on Wednesday, diplomats said in New York. The United States requested the closed-door talks to be held in the morning.

The current unrest erupted on April 1 when the opposition took to the streets in anger at what they saw as moves to strengthen elected socialist President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s hold on power.

The government and the opposition have accused each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the protests.

The boy was hospitalized after being shot in the head Monday during a demonstration in the western town of Pedraza and died early Tuesday, the public prosecution service said in a statement.

He was at the scene of a demonstration &quot;when suddenly a group of people arrived and fired several shots, wounding the young man in the head,&quot; it said.

The department added that two other men, aged 31 and 33, had died from gunshots they suffered in demonstrations in the cities of San Antonio de los Altos and Tachira.

Monday saw the latest in weeks of violence as opponents mounted fresh demonstrations against Maduro.

Police have fired tear gas and protesters have hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails in a near-daily series of clashes.

The center-right opposition blames elected socialist leader Maduro for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food and medicine.

It wants early elections to remove him from office.

Maduro has vowed general elections will take place as scheduled in late 2018 but not before.

He has accused the opposition of mounting an &quot;armed insurgency&quot; against him with US backing.

The president also extended for 60 days a legal state of emergency that has been in effect since January 2016, enabling him to restrict constitutional rights and take special political, economic and public safety measures as he sees fit to address crises.

An 18-year-old man also died from a wound to the chest during a demonstration in the western town of Palmira, the prosecution service said on Monday.

Two police and a civilian were injured by bullets in other towns, authorities and opposition leaders said.

(AFP)

Monday saw the latest in weeks of violence as opponents mounted fresh demonstrations against Maduro.

A 17-year-old boy and two men died in Venezuela after being shot during anti-government protests, prosecutors said Tuesday, bringing to 42 the number of people killed in six weeks of unrest. The latest deaths made the recent wave of clashes almost as deadly as the last such disturbances in 2014, when 43 people were killed in anti-government protests. "They cannot go on killing and torturing people, and getting away with it," said Organization of American States chief Luis Almagro, one of Maduro's harshest international critics. The UN Security Council will discuss the crisis in Venezuela on Wednesday, diplomats said in New York. The United States requested the closed-door talks to be held in the morning. The current unrest erupted on April 1 when the opposition took to the streets in anger at what they saw as moves to strengthen elected socialist President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power. The government and the opposition have accused each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the protests. The boy was hospitalized after being shot in the head Monday during a demonstration in the western town of Pedraza and died early Tuesday, the public prosecution service said in a statement. He was at the scene of a demonstration "when suddenly a group of people arrived and fired several shots, wounding the young man in the head," it said. The department added that two other men, aged 31 and 33, had died from gunshots they suffered in demonstrations in the cities of San Antonio de los Altos and Tachira. Monday saw the latest in weeks of violence as opponents mounted fresh demonstrations against Maduro. Police have fired tear gas and protesters have hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails in a near-daily series of clashes. The center-right opposition blames elected socialist leader Maduro for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food and medicine. It wants early elections to remove him from office. Maduro has vowed general elections will take place as scheduled in late 2018 but not before. He has accused the opposition of mounting an "armed insurgency" against him with US backing. The president also extended for 60 days a legal state of emergency that has been in effect since January 2016, enabling him to restrict constitutional rights and take special political, economic and public safety measures as he sees fit to address crises. An 18-year-old man also died from a wound to the chest during a demonstration in the western town of Palmira, the prosecution service said on Monday. Two police and a civilian were injured by bullets in other towns, authorities and opposition leaders said. (AFP)

Venezuela death toll reaches 42: Prosecutors

President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s plan for an elected assembly to draw up a new Venezuelan constitution faced headwinds Sunday, when opposition parties refused to join the process amid continuing violent anti-Maduro protests. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Although several opposition leaders had separately rejected Maduro&#39;s plan for a &quot;people&#39;s&quot; assembly, the center-right Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) formally announced Sunday that it would not participate.&nbsp;

&quot;We cannot take part in a fraudulent process,&quot; former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said, appearing at a news conference with other MUD leaders. &quot;We have a constitution, and the government cannot repeal it by act of force.&quot;

But some analysts said they fear the opposition is leaving the way open for Maduro to change the constitution at will, possibly cementing his grip on power.

Capriles effectively ruled out any opposition presence at a meeting on constitutional revision to be held Monday at the presidential palace.

Opponents plan to march to the headquarters of the education ministry in central Caracas instead to explain their position. &nbsp;

MUD rejects Maduro&#39;s proposal to elect half the members of the constituent assembly by voting in sectors it says are government-controlled, while the rest would be chosen in municipal elections.&nbsp;

Capriles maintains that Maduro -- whose leadership is rejected by seven of 10 Venezuelans, according to polls -- is trying to avoid a general election, the main demand of the opposition protests since April 1.

There is no provision in the current constitution for the sector-by-sector elections, Maduro says.

Explaining the &#39;flaws&#39;&nbsp;

Opposition leaders said Sunday that they plan an intense day of protests to demand elections and an end to the &quot;repression&quot; of demonstrations, which have left 36 people dead and hundreds injured or jailed.

Citizen assemblies would be held Tuesday to explain the &quot;flaws&quot; in the constituent assembly, deputy Stalin Gonzalez said.&nbsp;

He said there would be a march Wednesday on the Supreme Court and other judicial offices around the country, and other protests Thursday and Friday.&nbsp;

None of the demonstrations has managed to reach the center of the capital, considered a bastion of Chavismo, the left-wing ideology created by Maduro&#39;s predecessor, Hugo Chavez.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the presidential panel guiding the constituent assembly process, led by Elias Jaua, met with youth group leaders. Jaua, a former vice president and foreign minister, told them the assembly would provide a path to peace and co-existence between the opposing sides.&nbsp;

Some analysts warned that MUD&#39;s decision to sit out that process could leave the way open for the government to change the constitution at will.

&quot;If the opposition maintains its position,&quot; political scientist Luis Salamanca said. &quot;Maduro could change the very model of the state to perpetuate his grip on power.&quot;

&quot;Do not leave the space free,&quot; he warned, adding, &quot;this could be the last election in Venezuela.&quot;

Maduro&#39;s plan has drawn widespread international criticism. The United States, Mexico, Brazil and Spain have said that any process to modify the constitution requires universal suffrage.&nbsp;

Chile has said the process is worsening an already bad political crisis, and Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), has called the process &quot;fraudulent.&quot;

But Maduro insisted his hands were tied, insisting that he was dealing with an alleged &quot;armed insurgency&quot; seeking to oust him.

&quot;There are two paths: either there is peace or there is fascism. Either we rewrite the constitution or we bow to interventionism,&quot; he told aides by phone late Sunday.

Musical protest&nbsp;

In eastern Caracas, a thousand demonstrators sang or played drums, violins and guitars as they marched Sunday against the violence of the past month.

&quot;Music is my only weapon,&quot; said the cardboard shield held in one hand by a demonstrator, as he carried a guitar in the other.&nbsp;

&quot;We want to assert the values of musicians,&quot; said Anyibel Trejo, an 18-year-old with a viola. &quot;We are not terrorists. They are killing us. We are with the people, united.&quot;

An 18-year-old violinist was among the 36 protesters killed so far. He was honored at the march.

Carmari Garcia, who works for the National Orchestra System, said she wants to see a new president.&nbsp;

It is time for &quot;the dictatorship to end.&quot;

Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez agreed, calling for more protests.

(AFP)

Leaders opposed to the government said they plan an intense day of protests to demand elections

President Nicolas Maduro's plan for an elected assembly to draw up a new Venezuelan constitution faced headwinds Sunday, when opposition parties refused to join the process amid continuing violent anti-Maduro protests. Although several opposition leaders had separately rejected Maduro's plan for a "people's" assembly, the center-right Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) formally announced Sunday that it would not participate. "We cannot take part in a fraudulent process," former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said, appearing at a news conference with other MUD leaders. "We have a constitution, and the government cannot repeal it by act of force." But some analysts said they fear the opposition is leaving the way open for Maduro to change the constitution at will, possibly cementing his grip on power. Capriles effectively ruled out any opposition presence at a meeting on constitutional revision to be held Monday at the presidential palace. Opponents plan to march to the headquarters of the education ministry in central Caracas instead to explain their position. MUD rejects Maduro's proposal to elect half the members of the constituent assembly by voting in sectors it says are government-controlled, while the rest would be chosen in municipal elections. Capriles maintains that Maduro -- whose leadership is rejected by seven of 10 Venezuelans, according to polls -- is trying to avoid a general election, the main demand of the opposition protests since April 1. There is no provision in the current constitution for the sector-by-sector elections, Maduro says. Explaining the 'flaws' Opposition leaders said Sunday that they plan an intense day of protests to demand elections and an end to the "repression" of demonstrations, which have left 36 people dead and hundreds injured or jailed. Citizen assemblies would be held Tuesday to explain the "flaws" in the constituent assembly, deputy Stalin Gonzalez said. He said there would be a march Wednesday on the Supreme Court and other judicial offices around the country, and other protests Thursday and Friday. None of the demonstrations has managed to reach the center of the capital, considered a bastion of Chavismo, the left-wing ideology created by Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez. On Sunday, the presidential panel guiding the constituent assembly process, led by Elias Jaua, met with youth group leaders. Jaua, a former vice president and foreign minister, told them the assembly would provide a path to peace and co-existence between the opposing sides. Some analysts warned that MUD's decision to sit out that process could leave the way open for the government to change the constitution at will. "If the opposition maintains its position," political scientist Luis Salamanca said. "Maduro could change the very model of the state to perpetuate his grip on power." "Do not leave the space free," he warned, adding, "this could be the last election in Venezuela." Maduro's plan has drawn widespread international criticism. The United States, Mexico, Brazil and Spain have said that any process to modify the constitution requires universal suffrage. Chile has said the process is worsening an already bad political crisis, and Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), has called the process "fraudulent." But Maduro insisted his hands were tied, insisting that he was dealing with an alleged "armed insurgency" seeking to oust him. "There are two paths: either there is peace or there is fascism. Either we rewrite the constitution or we bow to interventionism," he told aides by phone late Sunday. Musical protest In eastern Caracas, a thousand demonstrators sang or played drums, violins and guitars as they marched Sunday against the violence of the past month. "Music is my only weapon," said the cardboard shield held in one hand by a demonstrator, as he carried a guitar in the other. "We want to assert the values of musicians," said Anyibel Trejo, an 18-year-old with a viola. "We are not terrorists. They are killing us. We are with the people, united." An 18-year-old violinist was among the 36 protesters killed so far. He was honored at the march. Carmari Garcia, who works for the National Orchestra System, said she wants to see a new president. It is time for "the dictatorship to end." Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez agreed, calling for more protests. (AFP)

Venezuela: Maduro's plan to draw up new constitution faces stiff opposition

Gunmen killed two more people during political unrest in Venezuela on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths to 12 this month, as anti-government protests entered a fourth week with mass &quot;sit-ins&quot; to press for early elections.

A 42-year-old man who worked for local government in the Andean state of Merida died from a gunshot in the neck at a rally in favour of President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s government, the state ombudsman and prosecutor&#39;s office said.

Another 54-year-old man was shot dead in the chest during a protest in the western agricultural state of Barinas, the state prosecutor&#39;s office added without specifying the circumstances.

Seven others were injured in both places.

The latest deaths come amid a month of protests that have sparked politically-motivated shootings and clashes between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and protesters wielding rocks and Molotov cocktails.

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Eleven people have also died during night-time looting.

The ruling Socialist Party accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with U.S. connivance, while the opposition says he is a dictator repressing peaceful protest.

The opposition&#39;s main demands are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led congress. But protests are also fuelled by the crippling economic crisis in the oil-rich nation of 30 million people.

&quot;I have an empty stomach because I can&#39;t find food,&quot; said Jeannette Canozo, a 66-year-old homemaker, who said police used rubber bullets against protesters blocking a Caracas avenue with trash and bathtubs in the early morning.

Demonstrators wore the yellow, blue and red colours of Venezuela&#39;s flag and held signs denouncing shortages, inflation and violent crime as they chanted: &quot;This government has fallen!&quot;

In the capital, they streamed from several points onto a major highway, where hundreds of people sat, carrying bags of supplies, playing card games, and shielding themselves from the sun with hats and umbrellas.

In western Tachira, at another of the &quot;sit-ins&quot; planned for all of Venezuela&#39;s 23 states, some played the board-game Ludo, while others played soccer or enjoyed street theatre.

At protests in southern Bolivar state, a professor gave a lecture on politics while some people sat down to play Scrabble and others cooked soup over small fires in the streets.

&#39;WE&#39;RE NOT GOING&#39;

Following a familiar daily pattern, the demonstrations were largely peaceful until mid-afternoon, when scattered skirmishes broke out and the shooting incidents occurred.

&quot;In the morning they seem peaceful, in the afternoon they become terrorists and at night bandits and killers,&quot; Socialist Party official Diosdado Cabello said of the opposition. &quot;Let me tell them straight ... Nicolas (Maduro) is not going.&quot;

This month&#39;s turbulence is Venezuela&#39;s worst since 2014 when 43 people died in months of mayhem sparked by protests against Maduro, the 54-year-old successor to late leader Hugo Chavez.

The latest protests began when the pro-government Supreme Court assumed the powers of the opposition-controlled congress. The court quickly reversed course, but its widely condemned move still galvanized the opposition.

The government&#39;s disqualification from public office of two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who would be an opposition favourite to replace Maduro, gave further impetus to the demonstrations.

&quot;I&#39;m staying here until 6 p.m. We&#39;re simply warming up because the day will come that we are all coming to the street until this government goes,&quot; said Gladys Avariano, a 62-year-old lawyer, under an umbrella at the Caracas &quot;sit-in.&quot;

More than 1,400 people have been arrested this month over the protests, with 636 still detained as of Monday, according to local rights group Penal Forum.

Facing exhortations from around the world to allow Venezuelans to vote, Maduro has called for local state elections - delayed from last year - to be held soon.

But Cabello said opposition parties could be barred from competing. And there is no sign the government will allow the next presidential election, slated for late 2018, to be brought forward as the opposition demands.

Given the country&#39;s economic crisis, with millions short of food, pollsters say the ruling Socialist Party would fare badly in any free and fair vote at the moment.

Trying to keep the pressure on Maduro, the opposition is seeking new strategies, such as a silent protest held on Saturday and Monday&#39;s &quot;sit-ins&quot;.

While some small demonstrations have been held in poorer and traditionally pro-government areas, most poor Venezuelans are more preoccupied with putting food on the table.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

Anti-government protesters are pressing for early elections

Gunmen killed two more people during political unrest in Venezuela on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths to 12 this month, as anti-government protests entered a fourth week with mass "sit-ins" to press for early elections. A 42-year-old man who worked for local government in the Andean state of Merida died from a gunshot in the neck at a rally in favour of President Nicolas Maduro's government, the state ombudsman and prosecutor's office said. Another 54-year-old man was shot dead in the chest during a protest in the western agricultural state of Barinas, the state prosecutor's office added without specifying the circumstances. Seven others were injured in both places. The latest deaths come amid a month of protests that have sparked politically-motivated shootings and clashes between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and protesters wielding rocks and Molotov cocktails. The latest deaths come amid a month of protests that have sparked politically-motivated shootings and clashes between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and protesters wielding rocks and Molotov cocktails × Eleven people have also died during night-time looting. The ruling Socialist Party accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with U.S. connivance, while the opposition says he is a dictator repressing peaceful protest. The opposition's main demands are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led congress. But protests are also fuelled by the crippling economic crisis in the oil-rich nation of 30 million people. "I have an empty stomach because I can't find food," said Jeannette Canozo, a 66-year-old homemaker, who said police used rubber bullets against protesters blocking a Caracas avenue with trash and bathtubs in the early morning. Demonstrators wore the yellow, blue and red colours of Venezuela's flag and held signs denouncing shortages, inflation and violent crime as they chanted: "This government has fallen!" In the capital, they streamed from several points onto a major highway, where hundreds of people sat, carrying bags of supplies, playing card games, and shielding themselves from the sun with hats and umbrellas. In western Tachira, at another of the "sit-ins" planned for all of Venezuela's 23 states, some played the board-game Ludo, while others played soccer or enjoyed street theatre. At protests in southern Bolivar state, a professor gave a lecture on politics while some people sat down to play Scrabble and others cooked soup over small fires in the streets. 'WE'RE NOT GOING' Following a familiar daily pattern, the demonstrations were largely peaceful until mid-afternoon, when scattered skirmishes broke out and the shooting incidents occurred. "In the morning they seem peaceful, in the afternoon they become terrorists and at night bandits and killers," Socialist Party official Diosdado Cabello said of the opposition. "Let me tell them straight ... Nicolas (Maduro) is not going." This month's turbulence is Venezuela's worst since 2014 when 43 people died in months of mayhem sparked by protests against Maduro, the 54-year-old successor to late leader Hugo Chavez. The latest protests began when the pro-government Supreme Court assumed the powers of the opposition-controlled congress. The court quickly reversed course, but its widely condemned move still galvanized the opposition. The government's disqualification from public office of two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who would be an opposition favourite to replace Maduro, gave further impetus to the demonstrations. "I'm staying here until 6 p.m. We're simply warming up because the day will come that we are all coming to the street until this government goes," said Gladys Avariano, a 62-year-old lawyer, under an umbrella at the Caracas "sit-in." More than 1,400 people have been arrested this month over the protests, with 636 still detained as of Monday, according to local rights group Penal Forum. Facing exhortations from around the world to allow Venezuelans to vote, Maduro has called for local state elections - delayed from last year - to be held soon. But Cabello said opposition parties could be barred from competing. And there is no sign the government will allow the next presidential election, slated for late 2018, to be brought forward as the opposition demands. Given the country's economic crisis, with millions short of food, pollsters say the ruling Socialist Party would fare badly in any free and fair vote at the moment. Trying to keep the pressure on Maduro, the opposition is seeking new strategies, such as a silent protest held on Saturday and Monday's "sit-ins". While some small demonstrations have been held in poorer and traditionally pro-government areas, most poor Venezuelans are more preoccupied with putting food on the table. (Reuters)

Venezuela death toll rises to 12 this month as unrest enters fourth week

The death toll in three weeks of violence at anti-government protests in Venezuela jumped to 20 people Friday after a night of clashes and pillaging left 12 people dead in Caracas.

Riot police and pro-government vigilantes fought running battles with protesters demanding the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro on the capital&#39;s east, west and south sides, witnesses said.

&quot;It was like a war,&quot; said 33-year-old construction worker Carlos Yanez, a resident of the southwestern district of El Valle.

&quot;The police were firing tear gas, armed civilians were shooting guns at buildings. My family and I threw ourselves to the floor. It was horrible,&quot; he told AFP.

Eleven people were killed in the neighborhood, according to officials.

Eight of them were reportedly electrocuted while trying to loot a bakery amid the chaos. The rest were shot.

The opposition accuses the government of sending gangs of armed thugs to attack them.

Videos shot by El Valle residents showed people throwing bottles and other objects out their windows at the gunmen in the streets below, shouting &quot;Murderers!&quot;

At one point, street protesters hurling Molotov cocktails managed to set fire to one of the armored police trucks firing tear gas at them, lighting up the night sky.

Fifty-four people, including newborn babies, were evacuated from a maternity hospital in the neighborhood.

There were conflicting explanations about the reason.

The government said &quot;armed gangs hired by the opposition&quot; had attacked the hospital. The opposition rejected the allegation, saying the children had to be evacuated because of tear gas fired by Maduro&#39;s &quot;dictatorship.&quot;

The hospital&#39;s director, Rosalinda Prieto, told AFP the evacuation was prompted by the stench of burning trash that had been set on fire by protesters.

Unrest and looting also erupted in several other neighborhoods.

A man was shot dead in protests in the eastern neighborhood of Petare, the local mayor said. Prosecutors said they had opened an investigation.

More protests planned&nbsp;

There was a heavy security presence Friday in the capital, as residents and workers cleaned up the destruction left by the clashes and looting.

Groups of hungry people, including children, scavenged for food amid the wreckage in El Valle.

The two sides looked set to spend the day regrouping after massive protests Wednesday and Thursday erupted into unrest in the flashpoint western city of San Cristobal and several other cities.

Opposition leaders have called new protests for Saturday and Monday.

On Saturday, they plan to march in silence to the Catholic Church&#39;s episcopal seats nationwide. They plan to erect roadblocks on Monday to grind the country to a halt.

Maduro a &#39;mythomaniac&#39;: Capriles&nbsp;

Protesters blame Maduro -- heir of the leftist &quot;Bolivarian revolution&quot; launched by the late Hugo Chavez in 1999 -- for an economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods.

Maduro says the protests against him are part of a US-backed coup plot.&nbsp;

On Thursday, he said the opposition had agreed to new talks. But his opponents denied the claim, saying the only way forward was to call elections.

Senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles slammed Maduro as a &quot;dictator&quot; and &quot;mythomaniac.&quot;

&#39;The country is calm&#39;&nbsp;

Pressure on Maduro has been mounting since 2014, as falling prices for Venezuela&#39;s crucial oil exports have sent the once-booming economy into a tailspin.

The crisis escalated on March 30, when the Supreme Court moved to seize the powers of the legislature, the only lever of state authority not controlled by Maduro and his allies.

The court partly backtracked after an international outcry, but tension only increased when the authorities slapped a political ban on Capriles on April 7.

The ruling Socialist party accused the opposition of sowing violence to chase headlines.

&quot;These delinquents want to make people believe Venezuela is in chaos. The country is calm,&quot; said Freddy Bernal, a party leader.

According to pollster Venebarometro, seven in 10 Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, whose term does not end until 2019.

(AFP)

A night of clashes and pillaging left 12 people dead in Caracas as anti-Maduro demonstrations intensify

The death toll in three weeks of violence at anti-government protests in Venezuela jumped to 20 people Friday after a night of clashes and pillaging left 12 people dead in Caracas. Riot police and pro-government vigilantes fought running battles with protesters demanding the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro on the capital's east, west and south sides, witnesses said. "It was like a war," said 33-year-old construction worker Carlos Yanez, a resident of the southwestern district of El Valle. "The police were firing tear gas, armed civilians were shooting guns at buildings. My family and I threw ourselves to the floor. It was horrible," he told AFP. Eleven people were killed in the neighborhood, according to officials. Eight of them were reportedly electrocuted while trying to loot a bakery amid the chaos. The rest were shot. The opposition accuses the government of sending gangs of armed thugs to attack them. Videos shot by El Valle residents showed people throwing bottles and other objects out their windows at the gunmen in the streets below, shouting "Murderers!" At one point, street protesters hurling Molotov cocktails managed to set fire to one of the armored police trucks firing tear gas at them, lighting up the night sky. Fifty-four people, including newborn babies, were evacuated from a maternity hospital in the neighborhood. There were conflicting explanations about the reason. The government said "armed gangs hired by the opposition" had attacked the hospital. The opposition rejected the allegation, saying the children had to be evacuated because of tear gas fired by Maduro's "dictatorship." The hospital's director, Rosalinda Prieto, told AFP the evacuation was prompted by the stench of burning trash that had been set on fire by protesters. Unrest and looting also erupted in several other neighborhoods. A man was shot dead in protests in the eastern neighborhood of Petare, the local mayor said. Prosecutors said they had opened an investigation. More protests planned There was a heavy security presence Friday in the capital, as residents and workers cleaned up the destruction left by the clashes and looting. Groups of hungry people, including children, scavenged for food amid the wreckage in El Valle. The two sides looked set to spend the day regrouping after massive protests Wednesday and Thursday erupted into unrest in the flashpoint western city of San Cristobal and several other cities. Opposition leaders have called new protests for Saturday and Monday. On Saturday, they plan to march in silence to the Catholic Church's episcopal seats nationwide. They plan to erect roadblocks on Monday to grind the country to a halt. Maduro a 'mythomaniac': Capriles Protesters blame Maduro -- heir of the leftist "Bolivarian revolution" launched by the late Hugo Chavez in 1999 -- for an economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods. Maduro says the protests against him are part of a US-backed coup plot. On Thursday, he said the opposition had agreed to new talks. But his opponents denied the claim, saying the only way forward was to call elections. Senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles slammed Maduro as a "dictator" and "mythomaniac." 'The country is calm' Pressure on Maduro has been mounting since 2014, as falling prices for Venezuela's crucial oil exports have sent the once-booming economy into a tailspin. The crisis escalated on March 30, when the Supreme Court moved to seize the powers of the legislature, the only lever of state authority not controlled by Maduro and his allies. The court partly backtracked after an international outcry, but tension only increased when the authorities slapped a political ban on Capriles on April 7. The ruling Socialist party accused the opposition of sowing violence to chase headlines. "These delinquents want to make people believe Venezuela is in chaos. The country is calm," said Freddy Bernal, a party leader. According to pollster Venebarometro, seven in 10 Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, whose term does not end until 2019. (AFP)

Death toll spirals as Venezuela protests rumble on

New clashes erupted Thursday between Venezuelan riot police and President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s opponents, inflaming tensions after a day of deadly unrest in the beleaguered oil-rich nation.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up thousands of marchers as they reached a vital freeway in Caracas, then edged back slightly as masked protesters pelted them with stones and Molotov cocktails.

Demonstrators vowed not to flinch in their campaign to oust Maduro, despite three weeks of protest violence that has left eight people dead, including three on Wednesday.

&quot;Sure we&#39;re tired, but we&#39;ve got to stand strong. I&#39;m ready to take to the streets every day if I have to,&quot; said 22-year-old student Aquiles Aldazoro.

Protesters set fire to trash bins and tore down a billboard to barricade themselves in, as officers fired water cannon at them and a police helicopter hovered overhead.

&quot;I don&#39;t care if I inhale gas, I don&#39;t care if I die. We have to put a stop to this murdering, repressing government,&quot; said Natasha Borges, 17.

One protester, completely naked except for sneakers, walked up to police and shouted: &quot;Please, stop gas-bombing us.&quot;

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Photo from April 19 in Caracas captures the struggle vs. dictatorship. Please note teargas, and people forced to flee into the sewer, below <a href="https://t.co/D4Re0F4rh6">pic.twitter.com/D4Re0F4rh6</a>
&mdash; Thor Halvorssen (@ThorHalvorssen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThorHalvorssen/status/855133347995144192">April 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Another draped in a Venezuelan flag defiantly marched up to an armored truck and stared it down.

Clashes also broke out in the flashpoint western city of San Cristobal, Maracaibo in the northwest and Valencia in central Venezuela.

The opposition called for new protests, a &quot;march of silence&quot; in all parts of the country on Saturday and a national road blockage on Monday.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Escalating crisis

Protesters blame Maduro -- heir of the leftist &quot;Bolivarian revolution&quot; launched by the late Hugo Chavez in 1999 -- for an economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods.

Maduro says the protests seeking to oust him are backed by the United States.

On Thursday, Maduro said the opposition was ready to begin a political dialogue, which his opponents denied.

&quot;Today they responded in four different ways that they were ready to begin talks,&quot; the president said at an official event. But the opposition stood firm that the only dialogue possible would be on calling elections.

Henrique Capriles, the former opposition presidential candidate, posted a message on Twitter calling Maduro a &quot;dictator&quot; and a &quot;mythomaniac.&quot;

&quot;No one believes him, however, about dialogue, which the Venezuelans will do with their VOTE!&quot; Capriles tweeted.&nbsp;

Pressure on Maduro has been mounting since 2014, as falling prices for Venezuela&#39;s crucial oil exports have sent the once-booming economy into a tailspin.

The crisis has escalated since March 30, when Venezuela&#39;s Supreme Court moved to seize the powers of the legislature, the only lever of state authority not controlled by Maduro and his allies.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took part in Wednesday&#39;s marches.

A 17-year-old boy and a 23-year-old woman died after they were shot in the head by masked gunmen. Maduro&#39;s camp said a soldier outside Caracas was also killed.

The opposition accuses Maduro of letting state forces and gangs of armed thugs violently repress demonstrators.

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said one person had been arrested for the soldier&#39;s death, which he called a premeditated &quot;act of terror&quot;.

Prosecutors say they are investigating the other two protest deaths.

&nbsp;

Looters cart off food

Numerous businesses and universities remained closed -- some in tacit support of the protests, others for fear of a repeat of the previous day&#39;s violence.

Looting erupted amid the chaos Wednesday. In the Paradise neighborhood in western Caracas, looters carted off food and beer from a series of ransacked businesses, residents said.

In poor neighborhoods traditionally loyal to Maduro, some protesters have cited hunger as their reason for joining calls for his ouster.

The escalation of Venezuela&#39;s political crisis since late March has galvanized the often divided opposition in its efforts to force Maduro from power.

The president, in turn, has urged his supporters, the military and civilian militias to defend the &quot;revolution&quot;.

International concern continues to mount. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged all sides in Venezuela to make &quot;concrete gestures&quot; to ease the tension.

The European Union called the deaths of protesters &quot;highly regrettable&quot; and urged all sides to &quot;de-escalate&quot;.

&nbsp;

Elections?

The opposition has called for the military -- a pillar of Maduro&#39;s power -- to abandon him.

But the defense minister, General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, has pledged the army&#39;s &quot;unconditional loyalty.&quot;

According to a survey by pollster Venebarometro, seven in 10 Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, whose term does not end until 2019.

The president said Wednesday he is ready for elections to put the &quot;interventionist right-wingers in their place&quot;.

Regional elections due in December were indefinitely postponed and there is still no date for local polls due this year. The next presidential election is due in December 2018.

(AFP)

The opposition accuses Maduro of letting state forces and gangs of armed thugs violently repress demonstrators

New clashes erupted Thursday between Venezuelan riot police and President Nicolas Maduro's opponents, inflaming tensions after a day of deadly unrest in the beleaguered oil-rich nation. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up thousands of marchers as they reached a vital freeway in Caracas, then edged back slightly as masked protesters pelted them with stones and Molotov cocktails. Demonstrators vowed not to flinch in their campaign to oust Maduro, despite three weeks of protest violence that has left eight people dead, including three on Wednesday. "Sure we're tired, but we've got to stand strong. I'm ready to take to the streets every day if I have to," said 22-year-old student Aquiles Aldazoro. Protesters set fire to trash bins and tore down a billboard to barricade themselves in, as officers fired water cannon at them and a police helicopter hovered overhead. "I don't care if I inhale gas, I don't care if I die. We have to put a stop to this murdering, repressing government," said Natasha Borges, 17. One protester, completely naked except for sneakers, walked up to police and shouted: "Please, stop gas-bombing us." Photo from April 19 in Caracas captures the struggle vs. dictatorship. Please note teargas, and people forced to flee into the sewer, below pic.twitter.com/D4Re0F4rh6 — Thor Halvorssen (@ThorHalvorssen) April 20, 2017 × Another draped in a Venezuelan flag defiantly marched up to an armored truck and stared it down. Clashes also broke out in the flashpoint western city of San Cristobal, Maracaibo in the northwest and Valencia in central Venezuela. The opposition called for new protests, a "march of silence" in all parts of the country on Saturday and a national road blockage on Monday. Escalating crisis Protesters blame Maduro -- heir of the leftist "Bolivarian revolution" launched by the late Hugo Chavez in 1999 -- for an economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods. Maduro says the protests seeking to oust him are backed by the United States. On Thursday, Maduro said the opposition was ready to begin a political dialogue, which his opponents denied. "Today they responded in four different ways that they were ready to begin talks," the president said at an official event. But the opposition stood firm that the only dialogue possible would be on calling elections. Henrique Capriles, the former opposition presidential candidate, posted a message on Twitter calling Maduro a "dictator" and a "mythomaniac." "No one believes him, however, about dialogue, which the Venezuelans will do with their VOTE!" Capriles tweeted. Pressure on Maduro has been mounting since 2014, as falling prices for Venezuela's crucial oil exports have sent the once-booming economy into a tailspin. The crisis has escalated since March 30, when Venezuela's Supreme Court moved to seize the powers of the legislature, the only lever of state authority not controlled by Maduro and his allies. Hundreds of thousands of protesters took part in Wednesday's marches. A 17-year-old boy and a 23-year-old woman died after they were shot in the head by masked gunmen. Maduro's camp said a soldier outside Caracas was also killed. The opposition accuses Maduro of letting state forces and gangs of armed thugs violently repress demonstrators. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said one person had been arrested for the soldier's death, which he called a premeditated "act of terror". Prosecutors say they are investigating the other two protest deaths. Looters cart off food Numerous businesses and universities remained closed -- some in tacit support of the protests, others for fear of a repeat of the previous day's violence. Looting erupted amid the chaos Wednesday. In the Paradise neighborhood in western Caracas, looters carted off food and beer from a series of ransacked businesses, residents said. In poor neighborhoods traditionally loyal to Maduro, some protesters have cited hunger as their reason for joining calls for his ouster. The escalation of Venezuela's political crisis since late March has galvanized the often divided opposition in its efforts to force Maduro from power. The president, in turn, has urged his supporters, the military and civilian militias to defend the "revolution". International concern continues to mount. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged all sides in Venezuela to make "concrete gestures" to ease the tension. The European Union called the deaths of protesters "highly regrettable" and urged all sides to "de-escalate". Elections? The opposition has called for the military -- a pillar of Maduro's power -- to abandon him. But the defense minister, General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, has pledged the army's "unconditional loyalty." According to a survey by pollster Venebarometro, seven in 10 Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, whose term does not end until 2019. The president said Wednesday he is ready for elections to put the "interventionist right-wingers in their place". Regional elections due in December were indefinitely postponed and there is still no date for local polls due this year. The next presidential election is due in December 2018. (AFP)

New Venezuela protest clashes follow deadly unrest

Venezuela&#39;s Supreme Court has returned powers to the country&#39;s legislature again amid massive protests over concerns of&nbsp;President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s increasing grip on political institutions.

The country&#39;s top court had on March 29 stripped legislative powers from the National Assembly, the sole institution that was not in control of the current government, which triggered a cascade of protests across the country and invited international censure.

The court had also undermined lawmakers&#39; powers by exposing them to potential prosecutions.

While opponents viewed the top court&#39;s ruling as a &quot;coup d&#39;etat&quot;, the most stinging of criticisms came from the country&#39;s attorney general on April 1.

Attorney general Luisa Ortega had dubbed the court ruling as a &quot;rupture of constitutional order&quot;.

Maduro had earlier hinted at the coming announcement in a televised address.

&quot;We have reached an important agreement to solve this controversy,&quot; he said.

However, opposition assembly speaker Julio Borges dismissed the court&#39;s gesture.

&quot;Nothing has changed. The coup d&#39;etat continues,&quot; he told reporters.

Even the international community had slammed Maduro&#39;s endeavour to widen his powers.

Thirteen members of the regional diplomacy body, including heavyweights Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, as well as the United States, had called for the Venezuelan court rulings to be declared &quot;incompatible with democracy and a violation of the constitutional order.&quot;

Power struggle&nbsp;

The opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) won a landslide in legislative elections in December 2015.

But the court has overturned every law passed by the current legislature.

Venezuela&nbsp;has the world&#39;s biggest oil reserves, but the collapse in energy prices has sapped its revenues, prompting shortages of food, medicine and basic goods along with a surge in violent crime.

Maduro is not up for re-election until October 2018. But he has been forced to fend off opposition efforts to call a vote on removing him from power.

Frustration in street 

Venezuela&nbsp;emerged from dictatorship after an uprising in 1958 and has seen three further attempted military coups since 1992.

Tension has grown since Maduro took over from his late predecessor Hugo Chavez in 2013. Both have been fierce critics of the United States.

In a speech to cheering supporters late Friday, Maduro insisted &quot;the constitution, civil, political and human rights, and people power are in full force.&quot;

But outside a supermarket in Caracas on Friday, Venezuelans queuing to buy food rations vented their frustration.

&quot;I don&#39;t support either side,&quot; said Yandry Diaz, 18, who works in a shoe shop.

&quot;What they want is to have us in the street, fighting and killing each other so that they can hold power.&quot;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The Supreme Court had stripped legislative powers from the National Assembly, the sole institution that was not in control of the government

Venezuela's Supreme Court has returned powers to the country's legislature again amid massive protests over concerns of President Nicolas Maduro's increasing grip on political institutions. The country's top court had on March 29 stripped legislative powers from the National Assembly, the sole institution that was not in control of the current government, which triggered a cascade of protests across the country and invited international censure. The court had also undermined lawmakers' powers by exposing them to potential prosecutions. While opponents viewed the top court's ruling as a "coup d'etat", the most stinging of criticisms came from the country's attorney general on April 1. Attorney general Luisa Ortega had dubbed the court ruling as a "rupture of constitutional order". Maduro had earlier hinted at the coming announcement in a televised address. "We have reached an important agreement to solve this controversy," he said. However, opposition assembly speaker Julio Borges dismissed the court's gesture. "Nothing has changed. The coup d'etat continues," he told reporters. Even the international community had slammed Maduro's endeavour to widen his powers. Thirteen members of the regional diplomacy body, including heavyweights Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, as well as the United States, had called for the Venezuelan court rulings to be declared "incompatible with democracy and a violation of the constitutional order." Power struggle The opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) won a landslide in legislative elections in December 2015. But the court has overturned every law passed by the current legislature. Venezuela has the world's biggest oil reserves, but the collapse in energy prices has sapped its revenues, prompting shortages of food, medicine and basic goods along with a surge in violent crime. Maduro is not up for re-election until October 2018. But he has been forced to fend off opposition efforts to call a vote on removing him from power. Frustration in street Venezuela emerged from dictatorship after an uprising in 1958 and has seen three further attempted military coups since 1992. Tension has grown since Maduro took over from his late predecessor Hugo Chavez in 2013. Both have been fierce critics of the United States. In a speech to cheering supporters late Friday, Maduro insisted "the constitution, civil, political and human rights, and people power are in full force." But outside a supermarket in Caracas on Friday, Venezuelans queuing to buy food rations vented their frustration. "I don't support either side," said Yandry Diaz, 18, who works in a shoe shop. "What they want is to have us in the street, fighting and killing each other so that they can hold power." (WION with inputs from AFP)

Venezuela top court retreats President Maduro's power extension bid

Venezuela&#39;s President Nicolas Maduro was subjected to a withering criticism from the country&#39;s attorney general for his successful attempt at enhancing his own powers.

Two days back, the Supreme Court took over the National Assembly -- the only pillar of power that was not under the control of the president and allies.

The takeover meant that the opposition-majority legislature was emasculated and also exposed lawmakers to prosecution, a move that has sparked nationwide protests.

Attorney general Luisa Ortega -- a staunch loyal to the socialist &quot;revolution&quot; launched in&nbsp;Venezuela&nbsp;by Maduro&#39;s mentor Hugo Chavez in 1999 -- went on the country&#39;s state television channel to launch a scathing broadside against the president.

&quot;It is my duty to inform my country of my deep concern over these events,&quot; said Ortega, drawing a long salvo of applause from the crowd.

She delivered her remarks while brandishing a copy of what she referred to as &quot;Chavez&#39;s constitution,&quot; adopted the year the late leftist firebrand came to power.

She also dubbed the dissolution of National Assembly as a &quot;rupture of constitutional order&quot;.

Later, Maduro reacted to the volley of attacks, saying: &quot;In&nbsp;Venezuela, the constitution, civil, political and human rights and people power are in full force.&quot;

The criticism was delivered on state television which is largely controlled by the government.

The attack on Maduro comes as protests entered its second day, with students getting clashing with soldiers and some protesters blocking streets.

Two students and a journalist were arrested, activists said.

International condemnation continued pouring in, adding to the criticism already voiced by the United States, the European Union, Spain, Germany and a host of Latin American countries.

Colombia recalled its ambassador to&nbsp;Venezuela, joining Chile and Peru.

On Friday the six members of the Union of South American Nations in a statement called &quot;for the swift restoration of democratic order in the country for the good of the whole Venezuelan people.&quot;

Many have said the Supreme Court&#39;s move amounts to a coup.

Venezuela&nbsp;rejected that accusation Friday, lashing out at its critics as &quot;imperialists.&quot;

The head of the Organization of American States called for the regional group&#39;s permanent council to hold crisis talks on the situation.

South American regional bloc Mercosur -- which suspended&nbsp;Venezuela&nbsp;in December -- will also hold crisis talks Saturday, Argentina announced.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

The country's attorney general dubbed the dissolution of the legislature as a 'rupture of constitutional order'

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro was subjected to a withering criticism from the country's attorney general for his successful attempt at enhancing his own powers. Two days back, the Supreme Court took over the National Assembly -- the only pillar of power that was not under the control of the president and allies. The takeover meant that the opposition-majority legislature was emasculated and also exposed lawmakers to prosecution, a move that has sparked nationwide protests. Attorney general Luisa Ortega -- a staunch loyal to the socialist "revolution" launched in Venezuela by Maduro's mentor Hugo Chavez in 1999 -- went on the country's state television channel to launch a scathing broadside against the president. "It is my duty to inform my country of my deep concern over these events," said Ortega, drawing a long salvo of applause from the crowd. She delivered her remarks while brandishing a copy of what she referred to as "Chavez's constitution," adopted the year the late leftist firebrand came to power. She also dubbed the dissolution of National Assembly as a "rupture of constitutional order". Later, Maduro reacted to the volley of attacks, saying: "In Venezuela, the constitution, civil, political and human rights and people power are in full force." The criticism was delivered on state television which is largely controlled by the government. The attack on Maduro comes as protests entered its second day, with students getting clashing with soldiers and some protesters blocking streets. Two students and a journalist were arrested, activists said. International condemnation continued pouring in, adding to the criticism already voiced by the United States, the European Union, Spain, Germany and a host of Latin American countries. Colombia recalled its ambassador to Venezuela, joining Chile and Peru. On Friday the six members of the Union of South American Nations in a statement called "for the swift restoration of democratic order in the country for the good of the whole Venezuelan people." Many have said the Supreme Court's move amounts to a coup. Venezuela rejected that accusation Friday, lashing out at its critics as "imperialists." The head of the Organization of American States called for the regional group's permanent council to hold crisis talks on the situation. South American regional bloc Mercosur -- which suspended Venezuela in December -- will also hold crisis talks Saturday, Argentina announced. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Venezuelan president under severe attack over alleged power grab

Venezuelans lined up on Thursday to deposit 100-unit banknotes before they turned worthless, but replacement bills had yet to arrive, increasing the cash chaos in the country with the world&#39;s highest inflation.

Some frustrated customers received expiring 100-bolivar notes when they withdrew money at ATMs, then immediately had to line up again to re-deposit them.

Venezuelans are stuck in currency limbo after President Nicolas Maduro ordered the 100-bolivar note, the largest denomination, currently worth about three US cents, &nbsp;removed from circulation in 72 hours.

The government announced late Thursday that Venezuela&#39;s borders with Colombia and Brazil,&nbsp;closed to fight &quot;mafias&quot; allegedly hoarding the notes, will stay shut three more days.

The Thursday deadline was supposed to coincide with the launch of a 500-bolivar bill, the first in a new series of banknotes that will eventually be issued in denominations of up to 20,000 bolivars.

But with the new bills yet to arrive in the capital Caracas by mid-day, Venezuelans were left facing economic chaos.

&quot;I don&#39;t get the joke,&quot; office worker Yarelis Carrero said. &quot;When you withdraw cash at the ATMs, they give you 100-bolivar bills. And you can&#39;t get the new ones inside the bank, either.&quot;

She woke up early to get rid of her expiring banknotes only to discover that the bills meant to replace them were nowhere to be found.

From Friday, Venezuelans will be able to exchange 100-bolivar bills only at one of the central bank&#39;s two headquarters buildings.

Maduro, who has presided over an unravelling of Venezuela&#39;s oil-rich economy, said the 100-bolivar note had to be killed because &quot;mafias&quot; were hoarding it abroad in what he called a US-backed plot to destabilise Venezuela.

In response, he sealed the borders with Colombia and Brazil, where he says much of the hoarding is happening. Now those frontiers will stay shut until Sunday.

That led to pandemonium on the border, as foreigners rushed home and Venezuelans found themselves cut off from precious supplies of food, medicine and basic goods that are in desperately short supply in Venezuela.

&nbsp;Going cashless

Central bank chief Nelson Merentes promised last week that &quot;millions and millions&quot; of new bank notes were on their way.

The new bills, which are being printed abroad, were originally meant to circulate alongside the old ones during a transition period.

But Maduro axed that plan when he issued his decree against the 100-bolivar note Sunday.

It accounted for 77 per cent of the cash in circulation in Venezuela, according to official figures.

Venezuelans had grown used to carrying around huge stacks of them for even the smallest purchases.

Now they are stuck with even bigger piles of 10-, 20- and 50-bolivar notes just as the Christmas shopping season is at its height.

Some companies have stopped dealing in cash altogether.

One of the main Caracas taxi companies now requires clients to pay for their rides in advance by electronic bank transfer.

Standing in line at the bank, customers complained there was no sign of the new banknotes arriving.

&quot;Nobody&#39;s seen them yet,&quot; Saul Bernal said. &quot;A guy I know who works for an armoured truck company said even they haven&#39;t seen them. Pure lies!&quot;

Pummeled by low oil prices, Venezuela is mired in economic crisis and crippled with the world&#39;s highest inflation rate -- set to hit 475 per cent this year, according to an IMF forecast.

Maduro&#39;s popularity has plunged amid the turmoil, but the fractured opposition has so far failed to force the leftist leader to relinquish his grip on power.

&nbsp;

(AFP)

Venezuelans are stuck in currency limbo after President?Maduro ordered?removal of 100-bolivar note from circulation in 72 hours

Venezuelans lined up on Thursday to deposit 100-unit banknotes before they turned worthless, but replacement bills had yet to arrive, increasing the cash chaos in the country with the world's highest inflation. Some frustrated customers received expiring 100-bolivar notes when they withdrew money at ATMs, then immediately had to line up again to re-deposit them. Venezuelans are stuck in currency limbo after President Nicolas Maduro ordered the 100-bolivar note, the largest denomination, currently worth about three US cents, removed from circulation in 72 hours. The government announced late Thursday that Venezuela's borders with Colombia and Brazil, closed to fight "mafias" allegedly hoarding the notes, will stay shut three more days. The Thursday deadline was supposed to coincide with the launch of a 500-bolivar bill, the first in a new series of banknotes that will eventually be issued in denominations of up to 20,000 bolivars. But with the new bills yet to arrive in the capital Caracas by mid-day, Venezuelans were left facing economic chaos. "I don't get the joke," office worker Yarelis Carrero said. "When you withdraw cash at the ATMs, they give you 100-bolivar bills. And you can't get the new ones inside the bank, either." She woke up early to get rid of her expiring banknotes only to discover that the bills meant to replace them were nowhere to be found. From Friday, Venezuelans will be able to exchange 100-bolivar bills only at one of the central bank's two headquarters buildings. Maduro, who has presided over an unravelling of Venezuela's oil-rich economy, said the 100-bolivar note had to be killed because "mafias" were hoarding it abroad in what he called a US-backed plot to destabilise Venezuela. In response, he sealed the borders with Colombia and Brazil, where he says much of the hoarding is happening. Now those frontiers will stay shut until Sunday. That led to pandemonium on the border, as foreigners rushed home and Venezuelans found themselves cut off from precious supplies of food, medicine and basic goods that are in desperately short supply in Venezuela. Going cashless Central bank chief Nelson Merentes promised last week that "millions and millions" of new bank notes were on their way. The new bills, which are being printed abroad, were originally meant to circulate alongside the old ones during a transition period. But Maduro axed that plan when he issued his decree against the 100-bolivar note Sunday. It accounted for 77 per cent of the cash in circulation in Venezuela, according to official figures. Venezuelans had grown used to carrying around huge stacks of them for even the smallest purchases. Now they are stuck with even bigger piles of 10-, 20- and 50-bolivar notes just as the Christmas shopping season is at its height. Some companies have stopped dealing in cash altogether. One of the main Caracas taxi companies now requires clients to pay for their rides in advance by electronic bank transfer. Standing in line at the bank, customers complained there was no sign of the new banknotes arriving. "Nobody's seen them yet," Saul Bernal said. "A guy I know who works for an armoured truck company said even they haven't seen them. Pure lies!" Pummeled by low oil prices, Venezuela is mired in economic crisis and crippled with the world's highest inflation rate -- set to hit 475 per cent this year, according to an IMF forecast. Maduro's popularity has plunged amid the turmoil, but the fractured opposition has so far failed to force the leftist leader to relinquish his grip on power. (AFP)

Cash chaos in Venezuela as replacement bills arrive late

Venezuela will be suspended from South American trade bloc Mercosur at the beginning of next&nbsp;month, a top official said Monday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s socialist government has not adopted 112 resolutions as Venezuelan law, routine procedure for members, leading to its sidelining beginning December 1, Paraguay&#39;s Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga said.

Venezuela has said it cannot adopt the text because it conflicts with its domestic laws.&nbsp;

&quot;If you join an international agreement and something conflicts with local law, you indicate reservations,&quot; and Caracas has not, Loizaga said.

Mercosur countries had given Venezuela a three-month period to get up to date on putting the bloc&#39;s measures into effect.

Although Venezuela joined Mercosur in 2012, it has yet to ratify a large number of rules governing trade, politics, democracy and human rights.

Venezuela&#39;s neighbors are becoming increasingly wary of developments in the once-booming economy.

Maduro&#39;s opponents blame him for an economic meltdown marked by food shortages, riots and looting in the oil-rich country which is facing its third year of deep recession, hit hard by the plunge in global crude prices since mid-2014.

The crisis comes at a delicate moment for Mercosur, which has relaunched free-trade negotiations with the European Union.

Tensions between Maduro&#39;s government and its Mercosur partners were exacerbated with the election of Mauricio Macri as president of Argentina in 2015 and the replacement of Brazil&#39;s ousted former president Dilma Rousseff with Michel Temer.

Both right-leaning leaders replaced leftist presidents.

(AFP)

Venezuela joined Mercosur in 2012 but is yet to ratify a ?number of rules governing trade, politics, democracy and human rights

Venezuela will be suspended from South American trade bloc Mercosur at the beginning of next month, a top official said Monday. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government has not adopted 112 resolutions as Venezuelan law, routine procedure for members, leading to its sidelining beginning December 1, Paraguay's Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga said. Venezuela has said it cannot adopt the text because it conflicts with its domestic laws. "If you join an international agreement and something conflicts with local law, you indicate reservations," and Caracas has not, Loizaga said. Mercosur countries had given Venezuela a three-month period to get up to date on putting the bloc's measures into effect. Although Venezuela joined Mercosur in 2012, it has yet to ratify a large number of rules governing trade, politics, democracy and human rights. Venezuela's neighbors are becoming increasingly wary of developments in the once-booming economy. Maduro's opponents blame him for an economic meltdown marked by food shortages, riots and looting in the oil-rich country which is facing its third year of deep recession, hit hard by the plunge in global crude prices since mid-2014. The crisis comes at a delicate moment for Mercosur, which has relaunched free-trade negotiations with the European Union. Tensions between Maduro's government and its Mercosur partners were exacerbated with the election of Mauricio Macri as president of Argentina in 2015 and the replacement of Brazil's ousted former president Dilma Rousseff with Michel Temer. Both right-leaning leaders replaced leftist presidents. (AFP)

Venezuela suspended from South American trade bloc Mercosur

Venezuela freed four activists and the opposition postponed a symbolic trial in congress of President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday even as it warned it would quit Vatican-backed talks in a matter of days if tough conditions were not met.

Maduro met with opposition leaders on Sunday for the start of talks to ease a political standoff between the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition-led parliament during a spiraling economic crisis.

As well as suspending its parliamentary proceedings against Maduro, the opposition also agreed to postpone a march planned for Thursday to the presidential palace that the government had described as part of a coup plot.

But it demanded that the government release around 100 jailed opposition activists and bring forward the next presidential election - conditions that are likely to meet with significant resistance from government leaders.

Venezuela&#39;s next presidential election is due in late 2018.

&quot;We have put these points on the table, not so that they can be addressed in months but rather in the coming days and weeks,&quot; said opposition legislative leader Julio Borges during Tuesday&#39;s session. &quot;Otherwise, we will walk away from the negotiating table and continue with our struggle.&quot;

Without concrete progress, Borges said, the opposition would reopen the political trial and resume protests. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets last week in demonstrations that left dozens arrested and wounded.

Maduro&#39;s adversaries accuse him of creating a dictatorship by leaning on compliant institutions to block the recall referendum and sideline the National Assembly.

The Socialist Party lost control of the legislature in a landslide election in 2015 that was driven primarily by voter outrage over triple-digit inflation and widespread product shortages that have left many unable to eat three meals per day.

Activists freed

Maduro insists economic troubles are the result of an &quot;economic war&quot; imposed by hostile businessmen with the help of Venezuela&#39;s ideological adversaries in Washington.

The two sides have held repeated dialogue processes over the years that generally produced limited results.

&quot;I congratulate the opposition because they are calming down,&quot; Maduro said in a radio show.

&quot;What is the alternative to dialogue? War.&quot;

Many in the opposition have called the dialogue a stalling tactic and insist Maduro has no intention of allowing a referendum or an early presidential vote.

Authorities on Monday night freed three activists - Carlos Melo, Andres Moreno and Marco Trejo.

Moreno and Trejo spent a month in jail, accused of damaging military morale in a political propaganda video that showed a soldier suffering the same economic hardships as protesters.

The opposition&#39;s coalition on Tuesday said authorities had also released Coromoto Rodriguez, head of security for the legislature who was arrested during an opposition rally in May.

Government critics had said the detention was illegal and called it an effort to intimidate the legislature.

Investigations of the activists will continue, the government says. The three deny the charges.

As well as the Vatican, three former heads of state from Panama, Dominican Republic and Spain plus the regional bloc Unasur are trying to foster dialogue in Venezuela.

Senior U.S. diplomat Tom Shannon is also in Caracas and met with Maduro on Monday to try and support the talks.

Having narrowly won election in 2013 to replace Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer, Maduro has seen his popularity plummet, largely due to the OPEC nation&#39;s unprecedented economic crisis.

(Reuters)

It also agreed to postpone a march planned for Thursday to the presidential palace that the government had described as part of a coup plot

Venezuela freed four activists and the opposition postponed a symbolic trial in congress of President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday even as it warned it would quit Vatican-backed talks in a matter of days if tough conditions were not met. Maduro met with opposition leaders on Sunday for the start of talks to ease a political standoff between the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition-led parliament during a spiraling economic crisis. As well as suspending its parliamentary proceedings against Maduro, the opposition also agreed to postpone a march planned for Thursday to the presidential palace that the government had described as part of a coup plot. But it demanded that the government release around 100 jailed opposition activists and bring forward the next presidential election - conditions that are likely to meet with significant resistance from government leaders. Venezuela's next presidential election is due in late 2018. "We have put these points on the table, not so that they can be addressed in months but rather in the coming days and weeks," said opposition legislative leader Julio Borges during Tuesday's session. "Otherwise, we will walk away from the negotiating table and continue with our struggle." Without concrete progress, Borges said, the opposition would reopen the political trial and resume protests. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets last week in demonstrations that left dozens arrested and wounded. Maduro's adversaries accuse him of creating a dictatorship by leaning on compliant institutions to block the recall referendum and sideline the National Assembly. The Socialist Party lost control of the legislature in a landslide election in 2015 that was driven primarily by voter outrage over triple-digit inflation and widespread product shortages that have left many unable to eat three meals per day. Activists freed Maduro insists economic troubles are the result of an "economic war" imposed by hostile businessmen with the help of Venezuela's ideological adversaries in Washington. The two sides have held repeated dialogue processes over the years that generally produced limited results. "I congratulate the opposition because they are calming down," Maduro said in a radio show. "What is the alternative to dialogue? War." Many in the opposition have called the dialogue a stalling tactic and insist Maduro has no intention of allowing a referendum or an early presidential vote. Authorities on Monday night freed three activists - Carlos Melo, Andres Moreno and Marco Trejo. Moreno and Trejo spent a month in jail, accused of damaging military morale in a political propaganda video that showed a soldier suffering the same economic hardships as protesters. The opposition's coalition on Tuesday said authorities had also released Coromoto Rodriguez, head of security for the legislature who was arrested during an opposition rally in May. Government critics had said the detention was illegal and called it an effort to intimidate the legislature. Investigations of the activists will continue, the government says. The three deny the charges. As well as the Vatican, three former heads of state from Panama, Dominican Republic and Spain plus the regional bloc Unasur are trying to foster dialogue in Venezuela. Senior U.S. diplomat Tom Shannon is also in Caracas and met with Maduro on Monday to try and support the talks. Having narrowly won election in 2013 to replace Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer, Maduro has seen his popularity plummet, largely due to the OPEC nation's unprecedented economic crisis. (Reuters)

Venezuela opposition scraps Maduro trial but presses demands

Hours after the Vatican announced that the Maduro government and the Venezuelan opposition had agreed on Monday to launch talks this month, a top opposition leader dismissed the claim.&nbsp;

The opposition leader said they did not agree to hold talks with the government&nbsp;after Pope Francis weighed in on the dispute. Henrique Capriles, a top figure in the opposition MUD coalition, said the announcement of talks was a ploy by President Nicolas Maduro to keep resisting the opposition&#39;s efforts to remove him from power.

&quot;What dialogue? No dialogue has been started in Venezuela,&quot; said Henrique Capriles, a senior MUD figure, in an address broadcast online.&nbsp;

The Vatican had intervened to calm tensions in the country after the opposition accused the President of trampling on democracy by blocking a referendum to vote him out of power.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, the opposition said that President Maduro had jumped the gun&nbsp;by announcing the talks before terms had been agreed, with one leader accusing him of &nbsp;taking advantage of the Pope&#39;s &quot;good faith&quot;.&nbsp;

Earlier, the Vatican envoy to Argentina, Emil Paul Tscherring said that both sides had met and agreed to initiate a national dialogue with the purpose of establishing conditions for holding a plenary meeting later this month.&nbsp;

Capriles, however, added that he welcomed the Vatican&#39;s offer to help.

His announcement came after President Maduro received a private audience at the Vatican with Pope Francis. &quot;I thanked him in the name of Venezuela for all the support, so that at last, definitively, a formal dialogue could be started in Venezuela between the opposition and the legitimate Bolivarian government that I lead,&quot; Maduro said in televised comments afterward.

The pope urged both parties &quot;to show courage in pursuing the path of sincere and constructive dialogue, to alleviate the suffering of the people, particularly of the poor, and to promote renewed social cohesion,&quot; a Vatican statement said.&nbsp;

The opposition had vowed mass protests to fight what it called Maduro&#39;s &quot;dictatorship&quot; as it embarked on a new strategy to oust him.&nbsp;

The brewing political tensions in the country have increased the risk of violent unrest in the South American nation that is already dealing with an economic crisis.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Senior opposition leader denied agreeing to hold talks with government, saying it was a ploy to resist efforts to remove Maduro from power

Hours after the Vatican announced that the Maduro government and the Venezuelan opposition had agreed on Monday to launch talks this month, a top opposition leader dismissed the claim. The opposition leader said they did not agree to hold talks with the government after Pope Francis weighed in on the dispute. Henrique Capriles, a top figure in the opposition MUD coalition, said the announcement of talks was a ploy by President Nicolas Maduro to keep resisting the opposition's efforts to remove him from power. "What dialogue? No dialogue has been started in Venezuela," said Henrique Capriles, a senior MUD figure, in an address broadcast online. The Vatican had intervened to calm tensions in the country after the opposition accused the President of trampling on democracy by blocking a referendum to vote him out of power. However, the opposition said that President Maduro had jumped the gun by announcing the talks before terms had been agreed, with one leader accusing him of taking advantage of the Pope's "good faith". Earlier, the Vatican envoy to Argentina, Emil Paul Tscherring said that both sides had met and agreed to initiate a national dialogue with the purpose of establishing conditions for holding a plenary meeting later this month. Capriles, however, added that he welcomed the Vatican's offer to help. His announcement came after President Maduro received a private audience at the Vatican with Pope Francis. "I thanked him in the name of Venezuela for all the support, so that at last, definitively, a formal dialogue could be started in Venezuela between the opposition and the legitimate Bolivarian government that I lead," Maduro said in televised comments afterward. The pope urged both parties "to show courage in pursuing the path of sincere and constructive dialogue, to alleviate the suffering of the people, particularly of the poor, and to promote renewed social cohesion," a Vatican statement said. The opposition had vowed mass protests to fight what it called Maduro's "dictatorship" as it embarked on a new strategy to oust him. The brewing political tensions in the country have increased the risk of violent unrest in the South American nation that is already dealing with an economic crisis. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Venezuela opposition: No talks with Maduro government

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