Fresh protests rock Venezuela after man set on fire
-
Opposition activists clash with riot police during a health care personnel march in Caracas, Venezuela
Thousands of doctors have rallied in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, against President Nicolas Maduro amid the unrest which has claimed over 50 lives in the country over the past weeks.
The Venezuelan Medical Federation staged a protest in Caracas on Monday, with nearly 20,000 of its sympathizers marching on the headquarters of the Health Ministry.
Police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the protest.
The outskirts of Caracas also saw clashes between police and a group of protesters, who had blocked streets with barricades.
Earlier in the day, a youth lay in hospital after being set on fire by an angry crowd.
Commenting on the incident, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said opposition protesters set a government supporter on fire and stabbed him during a recent rally.
The protesters set fire to a government office and a police car in Barinas town.
Venezuela’s Vice President Tareck El Aissami said in Caracas that a drug storage facility in Barinas State was “totally destroyed.”
He said the right called for a march for health “but gave orders to attack everything related to care facilities.” On Monday, the public prosecution service said the death toll from the ongoing mayhem, which is in its eighth week, soared to 51 after three people died in Barinas.
Supporters of Maduro staged a counter-rally near the presidential palace.
EA
