Ekip
19 April 2017•Update: 20 April 2017
ByMaria Paz Salas
SANTIAGO, Chile
Venezuelan opposition leaders carried out what they called the “mother of all protest” in the capital, Caracas, and across the country Wednesday.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest the President Nicolas Maduro government that is currently facing severe social, political and economic crises.
Protesters positioned themselves at 20 points in the historic center of Caracas were thousands of government supporter also gathered.
Government supporters held opposing demonstration as backers dressed in red t-shirts and carried posters of popular late President Hugo Chavez, who governed from 1999 to 2013.
There has been reports of violent clashes between protesters, government supporters and police.
A 17-year-old protester was killed after being shot in the head in San Bernardino, a zone in northeast Caracas, according to local media.
Lawmaker Olivia Lozano told the El Nacional newspaper the perpetrators were supporters of the ruling party.
The opposition coalition Democratic Unity Table (MUD), has denounced what it believes is police repression and Attorney General Luis Ortega Diaz have called on the government to respect the right of protest.
Hundreds of opponents in different parts of Caracas clashed with security forces in an attempt to continue protests despite the use of tear gas by police to disperse and block the march.
Venezuela is grappling with a new wave of political protest since April 4 that has led to the deaths of six people and nearly 600 arrests.
