One dead as Venezuela police, protesters clash
CARACAS (AFP) — For a third straight day, violence erupted at protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, leaving one demonstrator dead amid escalating tension over moves to keep the leftist leader in power.
Police said a 19-year-old youth died after being shot in the chest during a demonstration in the capital.
The teen, Jairo Ortizo, died from a gunshot wound when National Guard troops tried to disperse crowds of protesters who had blocked a road on the outskirts of Caracas, authorities said.
Outraged dissidents called the shooting, which occurred at the end of daylong demonstrations in Caracas, yet another sign of the violent oppression they are subjected to under the Maduro regime.
In addition to the slain youth, dozens of people were injured Thursday, including at least 19 who required medical attention, mostly for breathing problems after inhaling tear gas.
AFP reporters also witnessed a National Guard soldier lying unconscious after having been struck by a large rock.
Maduro, who issued a televised appeal for order, said 30 people had been detained by late Thursday and that more arrests were possible.
“We are looking for all of them — we’ve identified them all,” he said of opposition activists who had scattered after skirmishing with police.
“One by one, they are going to fall and face justice,” Maduro declared on state television.
Earlier Thursday, protesters chanting “No more dictatorship!” hurled stones at National Guard riot police who blocked them from marching on central Caracas.
The police responded with tear gas and water cannons, prompting chaos on the eightlane highway where some 10,000 protesters had tried to break through security barricades.
Scores of protesters were also hurt at violent protests on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the opposition vowing to return to the streets today as a political crisis in the volatile oil-exporting country is raising concerns about democracy and stability.
Street protests are among the few options left for the center-right opposition to pressure Maduro, whom they blame for the country’s descent into economic calamity.
Negotiations have failed and he has resisted international pressure, while retaining backing from the military and control over most state institutions.
The opposition is accusing pro-Maduro Supreme Court judges of an internal “coup d’etat” for attempting to take over the opposition-majority legislature’s powers last week.
The socialist president’s supporters held counter-demonstrations on Thursday, condemning Maduro’s opponents as “imperialists” plotting with the US to oust him.