- Title: Clashes break out during opposition march in Venezuela
- Date: 8th April 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (APRIL 8, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF DEMONSTRATION, DEMONSTRATORS WITH HANDS UP, ANOTHER THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER POLICE ADVANCING IN FORMATION WITH SHIELDS, RIOT GEAR POLICE ADVANCING AND FIRING ON DEMONSTRATORS VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS THROWING OBJECTS AT POLICE MORE OF POLICE AND PROTESTERS, TEAR GAS IN THE STREET DEMONSTRATORS POLICE DEMONSTRATORS BLOCKING A STREET POLICE THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER POLICE TRYING TO CLEAR STREET GENERAL OF MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION DOWN MAJOR STREET AS SEEN FROM TOP OF A BUILDING VARIOUS OF MASS DEMONSTRATION SHOT FROM TOP A BUILDING OPPOSITION LEADER, HENRIQUE CAPRILES, WALKING THROUGH DEMONSTRATION AND RAISING HAND CAPRILES GREETING A SUPPORTER AND WALKING THROUGH CROWD CAPRILES WAVING TO CHEERING CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER, HENRIQUE CAPRILES, SAYING: "The ban (from holding public office) will never have an effect. It's just to demoralize us, to take hope from the people. It's to keep me from being a candidate or from being president. But this isn't about a candidacy. It's about Venezuela. And we're going to fight to change our country." VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS, MOST IN VENEZUELAN COLOURS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER, HENRIQUE CAPRILES, SAYING: "So we can expect more outrageous actions by the government, they could do anything, more human rights violations. We have to resist and I am here to resist too." MORE OF CROWD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE APPLAUDING VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING THROUGH STREET
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2017 20:02
- Keywords: Capriles Caracas Maduro opposition
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BJGC3R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Clashes erupted in the streets of Caracas on Saturday (April 8) as protesters marched following a government ban of a top opposition leader from office.
The ban, which would bar opposition leader Henrique Capriles from holding public office for 15 years, breathed life into a fractured opposition movement and fuelled the first sustained anti-government demonstrations since 2014.
Thousands of people, some carrying signs reading "No to dictatorship!" and "Capriles for President" took part in marches against the unpopular leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Security forces fired tear gas on one major avenue in Caracas while police in the opposition hotbed San Cristobal shot rubber bullets towards protesters, injuring two according to a Reuters witness.
Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate and current Miranda state governor, said Friday's (April 7) ban was designed to demoralize him and his supporter and that it would not restrain the opposition movement.
Government critics say Capriles' ban is arbitrary and allows the ruling Socialist Party to sideline popular politicians without due process.
Venezuela has been pummelled by a brutal economic crisis that has millions skipping meals, unable to afford soaring prices for basic goods and facing long lines for scarce products.
Over the last few days, authorities accused the opposition - and Capriles in particular - of fomenting violence and bloodshed by leading increasingly intense protests against Maduro.
The opposition says it is security forces who are unnecessarily violent. A 19-year-old man was shot dead in violence around protests on Thursday (April 6), and a police officer has been arrested. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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