Tens of thousands of Venezuelans flooded a main highway in the capital on Thursday in the latest protest over what opponents consider an attempt by the government to seize power from the legislature and further sideline the opposition. What began as a peaceful demonstration turned violent in the afternoon, as soldiers used tear gas and […]

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans flooded a main highway in the capital on Thursday in the latest protest over what opponents consider an attempt by the government to seize power from the legislature and further sideline the opposition.

What began as a peaceful demonstration turned violent in the afternoon, as soldiers used tear gas and water hoses to disperse crowds and protesters hurled rocks. Protests earlier this week also resulted in injuries and arrests.

Opponents of President Nicolás Maduro’s embattled socialist government have taken to the streets since Friday to condemn a move by the supreme court to strip legislative powers from the congress amid a long-running economic and political crisis.

Blasted at home and abroad, the supreme court quickly rolled back its decision, but that has not stopped the opposition to Maduro’s government from taking to the streets. By Thursday morning, crowds had massed in eastern Caracas carrying flags and signs that read “No more dictatorship” and “I am the National Assembly.”

“I’m tired of being scared,” said Mery Santiago, 60, an accountant who attended in part out of frustration with rising crime rates. “Almost every month I get robbed, and I can’t stand it anymore.”

Source:Punch Newspapers

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