Silent protest in Venezuela

– Dressed in white, Venezuelan protesters opposed to President Nicolas Maduro marched in silence in several cities on Saturday to pay respects to 20 people killed in three weeks of unrest.

Unlike demonstrations in recent days, the rallies in Caracas, Maracaibo, Barquisimeto and San Cristobal passed with no major violence reported between protesters and police.

A few minor scuffles briefly broke out in the east of the capital when police forced back the crowd with tear gas. A female journalist said she was assaulted by pro-government heavies downtown and a male journalist was detained for hours by intelligence officers, their union said.

For the first time since the turmoil in the streets started at the beginning of the month, the demonstrators were able to cross Caracas, including several districts loyal to Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

Tense negotiations saw security forces who had been blocking their way step aside to allow the protesters to march to their destination, the headquarters of the Catholic bishops’ conference.

The opposition is seen as close to the church, which the government accuses of playing politics against it. – AFP