- Title: Government supporters march in support of Maduro and against OAS meeting
- Date: 31st May 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS GATHERED, WAVING GIANT VENEZUELAN FLAG RED FLAGS BEING HELD UP BY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS SHOWING SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO CLOSE-UP OF A DOLL HELD BY A DEMONSTRATOR IN THE FORM OF FORMER PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER DURING DEMONSTRATION HOLDING UP TWO DOLLS OF FORMER PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ VENEZUELAN FLAG DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING UP SIGN THAT READS "#IAMACONSTITUENT" WHICH SHOWS SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT MADURO'S CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER HOLDING UP HER VOTING CARD GENERAL VIEW OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS FROM THE VENEZUELAN STATE OF MIRANDA WAVING THE MIRANDA STATE FLAG (PLEASE NOTE: THE FLAG LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE GERMAN FLAG BUT FEATURES THE VENEZUELAN STARS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER FROM THE STATE OF MIRANDA, ALEXANDER CONTRERAS, SAYING: "Today's march has a very significant historical factor because of (President) Nicolas Maduro's call during a national address on May 1 and the decrees 2830 and 2831 where he created the presidential commission overseen by comrade Elias Jaua Milano, and which calls for a constituent process that calls on all sectors, peasants, workers, communes, communal councils, students, youth, towards a process of inclusion for the achievements of this revolution over these 17, 18 years." PROTESTERS WAVING VENEZUELAN FLAG
- 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: LVA0016J66KP3
- 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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