Venezuela opposition vows revolt

>> CARACAS: A furious Venezuelan opposition on Friday vowed mass protests, accusing the Socialist government of staging a coup by blocking its drive for a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro.

The centre right-dominated MUD coalition called for nationwide demonstrations from Wednesday against the decision to annul a key stage in the referendum process.

“A coup d’etat was carried out yesterday in Venezuela,” Henrique Capriles, a leading MUD figure, told a press conference, shouting furiously.

“A coup was carried out against all Venezuelans.”

Authorities on Thursday quashed the opposition’s main strategy to get rid of the man they accuse of driving the oil-rich country to the brink of economic collapse.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) said it had indefinitely suspended the recall referendum process after criminal courts in five states ruled the opposition had committed fraud in an initial petition drive.

The opposition had been gearing up for the last hurdle in the complex process: a massive three-day drive starting next Wednesday to collect signatures from four million voters demanding a recall referendum.

Now that the courts and electoral authorities, which the opposition says are controlled by Mr Maduro, have stymied that bid, Mr Capriles said Wednesday would instead mark the start of a wave of street protests.

“That day is going to be the beginning of a mobilisation across the whole country,” he said.

“We will take Venezuela from end to end. The whole people will be mobilized to restore constitutional order.”