Venezuela says clashes between police, gang leave 26 dead

In this week's clashes between police and a gang in northwestern Caracas,at least 26 people have died and 38 are injured, Venezuelan Interior Minister Carmen Melendezsaidon Saturday. The victims includefour officers.

This count has come up as the area has been witnessingheavy gunfire, which has forcedsome capital residents to flee homes along with traffic snarls in several neighbourhoods.

In the crime-stricken city,the authorities try to push back on what analysts describe as a gang's effort to expand its territory beyond the Cota 905 barrio.

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Ministersaid 10 officers were injured in the clashes and22 'criminals' died. Around28 'civilians', a reference to residents not suspected to be gang members, were injured and that some civilians died, though she did not specify how many and did not provide further details.

Human rights activists said this week that four people were killed by stray bullets during the clashes. Activists and the political opposition have for years accused President Nicolas Maduro's government of disregarding and covering up civilian casualties in anti-crime raids.

They have also criticised pacts the socialist government signed with some gangs to create no-go areas for police in certain neighborhoods in a bid to lower violence, arguing the so-called 'peace zones' allowed gangs to consolidate power and resources.

"While civilians and police were murdered, western Caracas lived in fear for two days, and Venezuelans are fleeing the conflict, the dictatorship put on a show,"said opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, speaking alongside Melendez on state television, alleged the gang that controls Cota 905 was linked to some opposition politicians, without providing evidence. She added that three alleged members of 'Colombian paramilitary' groups were detained in connection to the raids.

(With inputs from agencies)