In Caracas, Venezuela, security forces have used tear gas and rubber bullets to quell protests sparked by disputed election results announced on Sunday.
Thousands of people marched towards the presidential palace on Monday evening, with many coming from distant slums surrounding the city.
Protests erupted after President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory, a declaration the opposition has condemned as fraudulent. Opposition candidate Edmundo González has asserted he won decisively with 73.2% of the vote. Opinion polls prior to the election had predicted a clear win for González.
Opposition parties had united behind González to challenge Maduro’s 11-year rule amid widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s economic crisis. Several Western and Latin American nations, as well as the UN, have called on Venezuelan authorities to release detailed voting records. Argentina, among others, has refused to recognise Maduro’s victory, prompting Venezuela to recall its diplomats from Buenos Aires.
In retaliation, Venezuela has announced a suspension of commercial flights to and from Panama and the Dominican Republic starting at 20:00 local time on Wednesday. The streets of Caracas are heavily guarded by military and police forces, including water cannons, to manage the protests and prevent access to the presidential palace.
Protesters have chanted “Freedom, freedom!” and set tyres and rubbish on fire, with some targeting Maduro’s posters. Clashes have ensued between armed police, military personnel, and pro-government paramilitaries with demonstrators, resulting in blocked roads.
Protesters such as Paola Sarzalejo have denounced the election as fraudulent, while her father, Miguel, voiced frustration with Maduro’s leadership, arguing it harms the youth and economy.
Maduro has accused the opposition of attempting a coup and described the protests as a fascist plot. Venezuelan authorities have warned that illegal activities during protests will be met with full force, with 32 people already detained.
US officials have expressed concerns about the election results, citing discrepancies with data received from various sources. They have urged for the release of supporting data but have not yet clarified any changes to sanctions policy.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) has announced an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
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