One dead, 46 hurt in Venezuela May Day clashes

CARACAS (AFP) – May Day clashes between opposition supporters and Venezuela's armed forces in Caracas left a woman dead and 46 people injured on Wednesday, with opposition leader Juan Guaido attempting to rally demonstrators against President Nicolas Maduro.

Jurubith Rausseo, 27, died at a clinic after being hit by a ''bullet in the head during [a] demonstration,'' the nongovernmental Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict said on Twitter, condemning her ''murder.''

Human rights organizations and health services reported 46 people injured in Wednesday's clashes, including one person with a gunshot wound.

Tensions in Venezuela have soared since Guaido, who heads the National Assembly legislature, invoked the constitution to declare himself acting president on January 23, claiming Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate.

National Guard troops fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters attempting to block a highway close to the air base in eastern Caracas where Guaido had tried on Tuesday to spark a military uprising.

At least one journalist was injured when National Guard soldiers fired rubber bullets at a group of reporters covering the clashes.

Guaido rallied his supporters in Caracas in the Labor Day demonstrations, urging them to stay in the streets.

His appeal came despite the apparent failure the day before the revolt by some soldiers and members of the Bolivarian National Guard who joined his side.