Security forces in Venezuela have dispersed an anti-government march opposition leader Juan Guaido led, his first since he returned from an international tour.
Guaido is trying to revive a campaign to remove President Nicolas Maduro as the country's economic crisis deepens.
At the United Nations, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said Venezuela’s security forces were using increasing levels of violence against opposition supporters.Security forces fired tear gas Tuesday to repel an anti-government march led by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who is struggling to reignite street protests to capitalize on mounting international pressure on embattled socialist President Nicolás Maduro
Thousands of demonstrators assembled in a leafy, anti-government neighborhood of Caracas with the goal of taking back the National Assembly, the country’s only opposition-dominated body whose chamber was seized over two months ago by a splinter faction of the opposition that claimed leadership of the legislature with the support of the ruling socialist party.
Many of the protesters were draped in the red, blue and yellow colors of Venezuela’s flag and banged on pots to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the oil-rich nation. Smaller protests took place in several cities across Venezuela.
But riot police wielding heavy shields and backed by armored vehicles blocked their progress downtown, where masses of red-shirted state workers and Maduro supporters held their own rally to show support for the revolution begun by the late President Hugo Chavez.
“They try to intimidate us with weapons of war,” Guaidó said from a megaphone. “We’ll keep going until we reach our goal.”
Clashes broke out as protesters flung rocks and sticks at police, who responded with volleys of tear gas that scattered the marchers. Guaidó then led a smaller group that reconvened in a safer part of town for an impromptu, outdoor session of the National Assembly.
Addressing lawmakers, Guaidó repeated his refrain that the only solution to an economic and social crisis marked by hyperinflation and crumbling public services is free presidential elections.
But even some of his supporters are beginning to second guess that strategy. Henry Ramos, a lawmaker who heads the Democratic Action party, said that with a new presidential vote out of reach for now, it is time to start preparing for congressional elections that are scheduled for this year.
“What are we going to do? Stay at home and let the government grab the National Assembly?” Ramos said in a rare public break with Guaidó, who has ruled out participating in any legislative elections until the Maduro-stacked electoral council is overhauled.
Nearly 60 nations, led by the United States, recognize Guaidó, head of the congress, as Venezuela’s legitimate leader because they view Maduro’s 2018 re-election as fraudulent.
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