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Venezuela detains dozens of anti-government protesters | Venezuela detains dozens of anti-government protesters |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police in Venezuela have detained at least 80 demonstrators who were demanding the release of those arrested in recent anti-government protests. | Police in Venezuela have detained at least 80 demonstrators who were demanding the release of those arrested in recent anti-government protests. |
Hundreds of people, mostly students, had marched peacefully through the streets of the capital Caracas. | Hundreds of people, mostly students, had marched peacefully through the streets of the capital Caracas. |
But security forces later clashed with a group of demonstrators who threw stones and home-made explosives, and tried to erect barricades. | But security forces later clashed with a group of demonstrators who threw stones and home-made explosives, and tried to erect barricades. |
More than 40 people have been killed during three months of unrest. | More than 40 people have been killed during three months of unrest. |
Wednesday's march was called by university students to demand the release of more than 200 people who were detained after security forces broke up protest camps last week. | Wednesday's march was called by university students to demand the release of more than 200 people who were detained after security forces broke up protest camps last week. |
The government said the camps were being used as bases to launch "violent attacks" and to hide "drugs, weapons, explosives and mortars". | |
'No proof' | 'No proof' |
But a university student at the march, Alex Gomez, rejected the accusations, saying "there was never a problem due to drugs, weapons, or alcohol". | But a university student at the march, Alex Gomez, rejected the accusations, saying "there was never a problem due to drugs, weapons, or alcohol". |
"We are demanding that they show us the reasons why they arrested them," he told the Associated Press news agency. | "We are demanding that they show us the reasons why they arrested them," he told the Associated Press news agency. |
A student leader, Juan Requesens, vowed they would continue demonstrating despite the arrests. | A student leader, Juan Requesens, vowed they would continue demonstrating despite the arrests. |
"The government is trying to suppress us by continuing to detain students. We will not bow down and will continue our protests," he told the Efe news agency. | "The government is trying to suppress us by continuing to detain students. We will not bow down and will continue our protests," he told the Efe news agency. |
Since 12 February, Venezuela has seen a wave of violent demonstrations that were triggered by discontent over high inflation, rampant crime and food shortages. | |
The government has labelled the protesters "fascist agitators" and accused them of fomenting a coup against the left-wing President Nicolas Maduro. | The government has labelled the protesters "fascist agitators" and accused them of fomenting a coup against the left-wing President Nicolas Maduro. |
In a report published last week, the pressure group Human Rights Watch accused Venezuelan security forces of illegally detaining and abusing protesters. | In a report published last week, the pressure group Human Rights Watch accused Venezuelan security forces of illegally detaining and abusing protesters. |
The latest clashes come a day after the Venezuelan opposition threatened to boycott ongoing talks with the government. | The latest clashes come a day after the Venezuelan opposition threatened to boycott ongoing talks with the government. |
The two sides began meeting last month in an attempt to find a way out of the crisis. | The two sides began meeting last month in an attempt to find a way out of the crisis. |
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