Protests as fifth mayor is arrested in Venezuela

Venezuela’s government continued its crackdown on opponents when a fifth mayor was arrested for promoting dissent against the president, Nicolas Maduro.

A group of youths set up barricades in El Hatillo yesterday to protest against the jailing of David Smolansky, their mayor, for 15 months for disobeying orders to quash protests.

“We can’t allow the dictatorship to hunt down, imprison and treat our mayors like criminals,” said Andres Paez, a lawyer who joined the protest.