More battles in Venezuela

– Venezuela erupted on Monday in a fifth day of violent protests against President Nicolas Maduro as the United States voiced “grave concern” over moves to stifle one of his main opponents.

Riot police in Caracas fired tear gas at stone-throwing demonstrators whose leaders vowed not to let up the pressure on Maduro. “We will see who gets tired first: us of fighting, or them of repressing,” said the deputy speaker of the opposition-majority congress, Freddy Guevara.

Several Venezuelan cities have seen running battles in recent days as protesters have rallied demanding elections. Police fired water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators, who hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails. On Monday, patients had to be evacuated from a medical clinic after it was hit by tear gas canisters. One protester was killed on Thursday. Dozens of people have been wounded or arrested. – AFP