Anti-government protesters march towards military barracks facing tear gas, watercannon

Record ID: 876965

  • Title: Anti-government protesters march towards military barracks facing tear gas, watercannon
  • Date: 27th May 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (MAY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS PROFANITY*** MASKED PROTESTERS WITH TEAR GAS CANISTERS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING TEAR GAS CANISTERS FROM HIGHWAY OVERPASS PROTESTER THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER BACK AT NATIONAL GUARD GENERAL VIEW OF PROTESTERS AMID TEAR GAS, AS THEY HOLD SMART PHONES PROTESTER LAUNCHING FIREWORK HORIZONTALLY AT NATIONAL GUARD THROUGH TUBE NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE LAUNCHING WATER CANNON MASKED PROTESTERS RUNNING FROM TEAR GAS PROTESTERS THROWING BACK TEAR GAS CANISTERS PROTESTERS, ONE WITH VENEZUELAN FLAG, RUNNING THROUGH TEAR GAS MEDIA FLEEING TEAR GAS PROTESTER WITH GAS MASK HOLDING MIDDLE FINGERS UP THROUGH GLOVE WORN ON ONE HAND TO BE ABLE TO THROW TEAR GAS CANISTER GENERAL VIEW OF CROWDS RUNNING FROM TEAR GAS ELDERLY PROTESTER, ALBERTO PENA, WITH HALF A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE ON HEAD TO USE AS GAS MASK PENA IN VENEZUELA SHIRT, WATER BOTTLE ON HEAD, WITH A COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION AROUND HIS NECK CLOSE-UP OF THE VENEZUELAN CONSTITUTION, KEYRINGS AND CHRISTIAN SCAPULARS AROUND PENA'S NECK PROTESTER WITH A MAKESHIFT SHIELD PLACING A SCAPULAR AROUND PENA'S NECK AND HUGGING HIM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELDERLY PROTESTER, ALBERTO PENA, SAYING: "I am against the Constituent Assembly, if we had had elections or the recall referendum this would not have happened, people would not have died. We cannot permit the Constituent Assembly, as it would be a fraud. They say there will be peace but there will be no peace." PENA WALKING WITH OTHER PROTESTERS AND PLACING HALF BOTTLE OVER HIS FACE PROTESTERS RUNNING NATIONAL GUARD WITH RIOT GEAR SHIELDS BESIDES WATER CANNON VEHICLE NATIONAL GUARD WITH RIOT GEAR NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE COVERED IN SMOKE MARKS AND PAINT NATIONAL GUARD WITH SHIELDS ON MOTORBIKES PROTESTERS WITH MAKESHIFT SHIELDS RUNNING, TEAR GAS FLYING PROTESTERS RUNNING THROUGH CROWD TO REMOVE INJURED PEER GREEN CROSS MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS TREATING INJURED PROTESTER PROTESTERS STANDING ON TOP OF TRUCK PROTESTERS WITH THEIR FACES COVERED, ONE WITH VENEZUELAN FLAG, HOLDING ONTO SIDE OF TRUCK PROTESTER SPRAY PAINTING OVER THE FACE OF PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO ON A BILLBOARD CLOSE-UP OF PROTESTER PAINTING OVER MADURO'S FACE GENERAL VIEW OF CROWDS OF PROTESTER ON HIGHWAY, TEAR GAS CANISTERS FLYING, VENEZUELAN FLAG AND GREEN CROSS FLAG PROTESTER THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER AND RUNNING, PROTESTER HOLDING A VENEZUELAN FLAG PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF TEAR GAS, PROTESTER HOLDING A VENEZUELAN FLAG PROTESTER THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER PROTESTER WITH HELMET AND FACE COVERED HOLDING A BANNER READING (IN SPANISH): "I AM MILITARY, I HAVE KILLED, BENAVIDEZ (HEAD OF RIOT SECURITY FORCES) SENT ME" PROTESTERS GETTING OUT OF TRUCK
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2017 02:02
  • Keywords: crisis Nicolas Maduro protests Venezuela
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016IH7GHZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Anti-government protests in Venezuela's capital turned violent once again on Friday (May 26), as demonstrators marched towards military barracks, clashing en route with members of the National Guard.
    The armed forces' National Guard unit has played a pivotal role in two months of unrest rocking Venezuela, often blocking marches and using teargas and water cannons to fight youths hurling stones and Molotov cocktails.
    At least 57 people have been killed, including one National Guard member and two policemen.
    One protester held a sign saying, "I am military, I have killed, Benavidez (Head of Riot Security Forces) sent me," whilst another painted over Maduro's face on a bill board.
    Decried by protesters as "murderers" defending a dictator, Venezuela's military insisted on Thursday it was not taking sides in the national political turmoil, though it did back socialist President Nicolas Maduro's controversial plan for a new congress to sidestep the opposition-led National Assembly.
    The military defended its record during the protests, in which Maduro opponents have staged daily demonstrations demanding elections, humanitarian aid to offset a brutal economic crisis, and freedom for jailed activists.
    The communique was a response to Chief State Prosecutor Luisa Ortega, who on Wednesday accused security forces of excessive force against protesters. She said one student was killed by a tear gas canister fired from close range by a National Guard.
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