- Title: Government supporters march in support of Maduro and against OAS meeting
- Date: 31st May 2017
- Summary: PROTESTERS MOVING ALONG TO MUSIC
- Embargoed: 14th June 2017 22:00
- Keywords: Venezuela government supporters President Nicolas Maduro protests march crisis politics
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA0026J66KP3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro marched on Caracas on Wednesday (May 31) to denounce the Organisation of American States (OAS) and heap praise an upcoming Constituent Assembly following months of opposition protests across the country.
The pro-government protest comes amidst international pressure mounting on Maduro, with foreign ministers from the 34-nation OAS bloc meeting in Washington, D.C., to debate the situation in Venezuela.
Opposition supporters in Venezuela are demanding elections amidst widespread product shortages, a flailing economy and rampant crime.
Maduro, 54, has accused his opponents of seeking his violent overthrow with U.S. support. In response he has called for the creation of a super-body, or constituent assembly, with powers to rewrite the constitution, in voting set for the end of July.
Venezuela's opposition is refusing to participate, saying the vote set for July is a sham, with biased rules to ensure the body is filled with Maduro supporters. They fear a new assembly could then skew the rules for governors' elections in December of this year and the presidential vote slated for late 2018.
Polls show the government would lose any conventional vote. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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