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Venezuelan police break up four protest camps Venezuelan police break up four protest camps
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The Venezuelan national guard and police have broken up four camps maintained by student protesters and arrested 243 people in an early morning raid. The Venezuelan national guard and police have broken up four camps run by student demonstrators and arrested 243 people in an early morning raid.
The camps were installed more than a month ago to protest against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. The interior minister, Miguel Rodríguez Torres, said the tent cities had been dismantled and that those arrested would appear in court. The camps were set up more than a month ago to protest against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. The interior minister, Miguel Rodríguez Torres, said the tent cities had been dismantled and those arrested would appear in court.
The US Congress is moving closer to imposing economic sanctions against Venezuela's government. State department officials will brief a Senate committee on Thursday about the violent street protests in recent weeks, and on Friday a House panel will finalise its version of a sanctions bill. The US Congress is moving closer to imposing economic sanctions against Venezuela's government. State department officials were due to brief a Senate committee on Thursday about the violent street protests in recent weeks, while on Friday a House panel will finalise its version of a sanctions bill today.
The legislation in both chambers is relatively modest. It centres on $15m (£9m) in new funds to promote democracy and rule of law in Venezuela. It bans visas for Venezuelan officials who crushed anti-government protests and freezes their assets.The legislation in both chambers is relatively modest. It centres on $15m (£9m) in new funds to promote democracy and rule of law in Venezuela. It bans visas for Venezuelan officials who crushed anti-government protests and freezes their assets.
Since February, 41 people on all sides have been killed and l785 injured during the protests. At least 2,200 people have been arrested. Since February, 41 people on all sides have been killed and 785 injured during the protests. At least 2,200 have been arrested.
Maduro's administration has grown increasingly fed up with the demonstrations, and last week it announced the arrests of 58 foreigners on suspicion of inciting protests against the government. Both Maduro and Rodríguez Torres have denounced what they describe as a plot to promote unrest aimed at overthrowing the administration. Maduro's government has grown increasingly fed up with the demonstrations. Last week it announced the arrests of 58 foreigners on suspicion of inciting violent protests against the government. Both Maduro and Rodríguez Torres have denounced what they call a plot to promote unrest aimed at overthrowing the administration.
Opponents have repeatedly rejected the government's frequent allegations about coup attempts, calling them an effort to distract attention from the country's problems. They say the protests arise from widespread discontent over 57% inflation and authoritarian practices.Opponents have repeatedly rejected the government's frequent allegations about coup attempts, calling them an effort to distract attention from the country's problems. They say the protests arise from widespread discontent over 57% inflation and authoritarian practices.
Human rights groups have accused Venezuelan security officials of arresting, torturing and killing unarmed demonstrators.Human rights groups have accused Venezuelan security officials of arresting, torturing and killing unarmed demonstrators.
The US senator Marco Rubio said sanctions should target anyone responsible for human rights violations, and he refused to rule out Maduro as a potential target. Action now would show the US was "firmly on the side of the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people", he said.The US senator Marco Rubio said sanctions should target anyone responsible for human rights violations, and he refused to rule out Maduro as a potential target. Action now would show the US was "firmly on the side of the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people", he said.