Clashes kill five as Venezuelans protest vote for new congress

Record ID: 904305

  • Title: Clashes kill five as Venezuelans protest vote for new congress
  • Date: 28th July 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF PROTESTERS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD, SMOKE STREAM FROM TEAR GAS CANISTER SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND OFFICER FROM NATIONAL GUARD FIRING THREE ROUNDS OF TEAR GAS CANISTERS IN DIRECTION OF PROTESTERS PROTESTERS AND JOURNALISTS STANDING NEAR CLOUD OF TEAR GAS PROTESTERS WEARING HOODIES, HELMETS AND CARRYING MAKESHIFT SHIELDS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH TEAR GAS IN THE AIR PROTESTERS RUNNING AS NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS ON MOTORBIKES ARRIVE ON SCENE OFFICERS RUNNING AFTER FLEEING PROTESTERS GROUP OF OFFICERS NABBING ONE YOUNG PROTESTER OFFICERS FIRING ROUNDS OF TEAR GAS CANISTERS IN DIRECTION OF FLEEING PROTESTERS PROTESTERS RUNNING PROTESTER BEING DETAINED BY OFFICERS / ANOTHER OFFICER FIRES TEAR GAS CANISTER PROTESTER WHO HAS HIS HANDS BOUND BEHIND HIS BACK PUT ON BACK OF MOTORCYCLE BETWEEN TWO OFFICERS PROTESTER WEARING BEAR MASK STOKING OFFICERS WITH HAND GESTURES DETAINED PROTESTER WITH HIS SHIRT OVER HIS HEAD BEING ESCORTED BY OFFICER DETAINED PROTESTERS BEING PUT ON BACK OF POLICE MOTORCYCLE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, BEATRIZ GONZALEZ, SAYING: "There are three days to go, let's wait and see, waiting for Sunday (July 30). We're here because we know we are going to come out victorious. We want a Venezuela that is free, like we had before. That is where we are at." PARAMEDICS WEARING GAS MASKS ASSISTING INJURED PROTESTER PARAMEDICS CHECKING INJURED PROTESTER PARAMEDICS PUTTING INJURED PROTESTER ON BACK OF MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS WALKING PAST LARGE TEAR GAS SMOKE CLOUD SMOKE FROM TEAR GAS CANISTER RISING AROUND PROTESTERS PARAMEDIC RUNNING WITH INJURED WOMAN WHO IS HOLDING A PIECE OF CLOTH TO HER FACE TO PROTECT FROM TEAR GAS OFFICERS ON MOTORCYCLES RIDING THROUGH CLOUD OF TEAR GAS DETAINED PROTESTER ON MOTORCYCLE BETWEEN TWO OFFICERS NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS ON BACK OF MOTORCYCLES MOUNTING SIDEWALK GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH INTERIOR AND JUSTICE MINISTER NESTOR REVEROL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTERIOR AND JUSTICE MINISTER, NESTOR REVEROL, SAYING: "Public meetings and demonstrations of people or any other similar act that could affect or disturb the electoral process in the established dates and times are prohibited. It is important to emphasise that this is a violation of the Bolivarian Constitution of Venezuela, which establishes the right of Venezuelans to move freely on national territory."
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2017 01:00
  • Keywords: Venezuela Nicolas Maduro clashes tear gas constituent assembly violinist Wuilly Arteaga
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016RHVK1Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Clashes between Venezuelan security forces and demonstrators have killed five people during the latest opposition-led strike to protest an election on Sunday (July 30) that critics contend will mark the end of democracy in the oil-rich country.
    Critics of President Nicolas Maduro are taking to the streets to pile more pressure on the unpopular leftist leader President Nicolas Maduro. But they were dispersed by members of the National Guard lobbing tear gas canisters at the demonstration and making arrests.
    At least 108 people have died in anti-government unrest convulsing Venezuela since April, when the opposition launched protests demanding free and fair elections to end nearly two decades of socialist rule.
    Instead, Maduro has put forth an election for the Constituent Assembly, which would have power to rewrite the constitution and shut down the existing opposition-led legislature. The opposition says the move would cement dictatorship in Venezuela.
    Interior Minister Nestor Reverol warned that protests were banned from Friday to Tuesday, leaving open the likelihood of more violence in volatile Venezuela. Many Venezuelans are nervous and have been stocking up on food and staying home.
    Voters on Sunday will choose 364 constitutional representatives distributed across municipalities and state capitals and another 181 "sectoral" candidates from demographic groups ranging from students to farmers and fisherman. The opposition Democratic Unity coalition is boycotting the vote, arguing candidates are stacked in the government's favour.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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