Venezuela security forces fight protesters amid May Day rallies – VIDEO
Security forces fired tear gas at youths throwing stones and petrol bombs on Monday as Venezuela’s opposition began a second month of protests against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
With hundreds of thousands on the streets of Caracas for rival May Day marches, red-shirted supporters of Maduro also gathered downtown vowing to defend the socialists’ 18-year rule of the South American oil producer.
At the protest in front of the Justice Palace #Valencia , #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/in03uhH7IU
— Tito Zerpa Figarella (@tzerpaf) May 1, 2017
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Twenty nine people have been killed and hundreds injured in unrest that began in early April against Maduro, the unpopular 54-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez.
“For no reason, they are starting to repress us,” lawmaker Jose Olivares said, as National Guard troops shot teargas in one district of west Caracas in the morning towards hundreds of people standing around waiting to march.
Cedeño Avenue in #Valencia, #Venezuela. Protest against Nicolas Maduro's government 5/1 12:30 pm @nytimes pic.twitter.com/nZzBxw6DCq
— Tito Zerpa Figarella (@tzerpaf) May 1, 2017
Most took cover behind trees and walls, while opposition leaders took out phones to film the National Guard. Olivares was injured in the head by a gas cannister, the opposition said.
Elsewhere, the National Guard blocked marchers pouring towards a major highway in front of the Avila mountain on Caracas’ northern edge. Opposition supporters cheered as youths ran to the front, wearing masks and carrying makeshift shields made from trash bin lids, wood and even a satellite dish.
Some threw stones and petrol bombs at the security line.
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