Venezuela post-vote riot kills 7, as rivals rally supporters
Source: Agencies |
April 17, 2013, Wednesday
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VIOLENT clashes at opposition protests over Venezuela's disputed presidential election have killed seven people, officials said yesterday, as both sides mobilized supporters nationwide for new demonstrations.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles has demanded a full recount of votes from Sunday's election after results showed a narrow victory for late President Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro.
The election authority has ruled out a recount, raising fears of more violence in the South American nation, which has the world's largest oil reserves.
The deaths happened on Monday when hundreds of protesters took to the streets in various parts of the capital Caracas and other cities, blocking streets, burning tires and fighting with security forces in some cases. Officials also said 135 people were arrested in the violence.
State media and officials said the fatalities included two people shot by opposition sympathizers while celebrating Maduro's victory in a middle-class area of Caracas.
One person died in an attack on a government-run clinic in a central state. Two, including a policeman, were killed in an Andean border state.
"We will defeat this violent fascism with democracy," said Foreign Minister Elias Jaua, describing incidents and showing video footage to a group of ambassadors.
"Those who attempt to take with force what they could not acquire through elections are not democrats."
More demonstrations
There was no immediate response from the opposition, and Capriles' camp reiterated demands for peaceful protests yesterday as thousands of his supporters marched to regional election offices around the country.
The government held counter-demonstrations.
After Sunday's vote, Capriles refused to recognize the results, and his followers poured into the streets. In Caracas on Monday night opposition supporters banged pots and pans, and Maduro backers responded with fireworks and music.
In a wealthy district of Caracas, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in a battle running into Monday evening with masked, rock-wielding opposition supporters. Motorcyclists drove in circles around a pile of burning trash along the capital's principal highway.
Capriles said his team's figures show he won the election and he wants a full recount. The National Electoral Council said an audit of 54 percent of the voting stations, in a widely respected electronic vote system, had already been carried out.
The election was triggered by the death of Chavez last month after a two-year battle with cancer. He named Maduro as his successor before he died and his protege won the election with 50.8 percent of the vote against Capriles' 49.0 percent.
"Where are the opposition politicians who believe in democracy?" Maduro said, blaming Capriles for the violence.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles has demanded a full recount of votes from Sunday's election after results showed a narrow victory for late President Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro.
The election authority has ruled out a recount, raising fears of more violence in the South American nation, which has the world's largest oil reserves.
The deaths happened on Monday when hundreds of protesters took to the streets in various parts of the capital Caracas and other cities, blocking streets, burning tires and fighting with security forces in some cases. Officials also said 135 people were arrested in the violence.
State media and officials said the fatalities included two people shot by opposition sympathizers while celebrating Maduro's victory in a middle-class area of Caracas.
One person died in an attack on a government-run clinic in a central state. Two, including a policeman, were killed in an Andean border state.
"We will defeat this violent fascism with democracy," said Foreign Minister Elias Jaua, describing incidents and showing video footage to a group of ambassadors.
"Those who attempt to take with force what they could not acquire through elections are not democrats."
More demonstrations
There was no immediate response from the opposition, and Capriles' camp reiterated demands for peaceful protests yesterday as thousands of his supporters marched to regional election offices around the country.
The government held counter-demonstrations.
After Sunday's vote, Capriles refused to recognize the results, and his followers poured into the streets. In Caracas on Monday night opposition supporters banged pots and pans, and Maduro backers responded with fireworks and music.
In a wealthy district of Caracas, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in a battle running into Monday evening with masked, rock-wielding opposition supporters. Motorcyclists drove in circles around a pile of burning trash along the capital's principal highway.
Capriles said his team's figures show he won the election and he wants a full recount. The National Electoral Council said an audit of 54 percent of the voting stations, in a widely respected electronic vote system, had already been carried out.
The election was triggered by the death of Chavez last month after a two-year battle with cancer. He named Maduro as his successor before he died and his protege won the election with 50.8 percent of the vote against Capriles' 49.0 percent.
"Where are the opposition politicians who believe in democracy?" Maduro said, blaming Capriles for the violence.
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