Venezuela's pro-government, opposition activists clash in Caracas
Clashes have erupted in the Venezuelan capital between pro-government and opposition activists seeking to initiate a petition calling for a referendum on whether the country’s president should leave office.
The Thursday stand-off took place after activists with the Democratic Unity Roundtable, an umbrella opposition coalition, marched toward the National Electoral Council in Caracas to obtain the forms required for the petition.
The violence, which involved about 150 opposition activists, including 30 lawmakers, and some 50 government supporters, saw the sides trading insults and hurling rocks.
Opposition lawmaker, Tomas Guanipa, said several people, including a fellow MP, were injured in the melee. Pro-government activists also reportedly assaulted journalists covering the confrontation.
The opposition coalition was, however, able to submit the forms, said Jesus Torrealba, the head of the group.
Since 2014, the country has been grappling with protests against President Nicolas Maduro, who has been bequeathed a now-17-year-old socialist "revolution" by his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
The head of state’s critics, who blame him for the country’s deep recession, triple-digit inflation, and dire shortages of basic commodities, have been calling for his removal more vociferously since last December, when the opposition gained control of the National Assembly in legislative elections.
Maduro, who describes his opponents as “divided and corrupt,” and other government officials have denounced the opposition’s drive as a US-backed attempt to bring about a coup in the country.
The opposition coalition also seeks to push through a constitutional amendment that would reduce the current six year presidential term.
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