Venezuela's opposition began the "mother of all marches" on Wednesday, accusing President Nicolas Maduro of resorting to dictatorial measures to quash popular outrage over a deepening economic crisis. Recent marches have repeatedly ended in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Youths throwing rocks have squared off against security forces spraying tear gas in melees that have dragged on well into the evening. The opposition charges that this is because the ruling Socialist Party would be likely to fare poorly in such a vote. Socialist Party officials dismiss the opposition marches as efforts to destabilize the government, pointing to protester barricades and vandalism, and have called on supporters to rally around Maduro.

Source: The Star April 19, 2017 15:22 UTC