Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Three people have died in fresh protests in Venezuela, this time in the central city of
Valencia. A policeman and two other men were shot dead
in separate incidents. In Caracas, Venezuelan government supporters
and opposition demonstrators took to the streets to hold rival marches.
The marches mark one month since the current protest movement began - on 12 February. Twenty-five
people are now known to have died. The opposition mayor of Valencia, Miguel Cocchiola,
said that the city had seen several incidents of violence during the day.
A 42-year old man, Guillermo Sanchez, was painting his house when he was shot in the
head by pro-government militias passing on motorbikes, said Mr Cocchiola.
Student Jesus Enrique Acosta, 20, was also killed in Valencia. Mr Cocchiola said Mr Acosta
was also shot dead by the government groups, known as "colectivos".
The other victim was army captain Ernesto Bravo Bracho. The government said he was killed
by "criminal terrorists". Meanwhile, opposition demonstrators marched
through the streets of eastern Caracas - an anti-government stronghold - denouncing police
brutality and the economic crisis. They called for the release of dozens of jailed
activists. At the end of the protests, activists threw
stones and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas. Several people were
injured. There were demonstrations in several other
Venezuelan cities. Elsewhere in the capital, thousands of government
supporters joined President Nicolas Maduro in a "march for peace".
Mr Maduro said this week that he had managed to defeat a plot to bring down his government.
saying a right-wing plot had been neutralised.