Venezuelan police have fired tear gas at opposition protesters in Caracas who were hoping to capitalize on several weeks of momentum and force a change in the government of President Nicolas Maduro, who has overseen economic collapse and the erosion of democracy.
Riot police were deployed on to the streets of Caracas to displace protesters. Officers were met with rocks and other objects thrown in their direction. Under the cover of helmets and shields, police fired tear gas canisters in the direction of the protesters, who then set fire to a police tower in the middle of the city.
A spate of protests in Caracas , sparked by a brief military uprising, have spread hope that a new leader of the congress, Juan Guaido, could unify the opposition and dislodge Maduro.
Guaido has said he would be willing to replace Maduro as interim president, with the support of the military, to call free elections.
“It is citizens versus dictatorship. Nobody in Venezuela wants a dictatorship and we demonstrated that today. The swearing-in of Juan Guaido as interim (president) is a step forward”.
Related posts:
South African police fire tear gas to disperse anti-immigrant protesters
Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters
Sudan police fire tear gas as protesters rally in Khartoum
U.S. security fire tear gas into Mexico at ‘violent mob’ near border
Kenyan police fire tear gas after women attacked at election meeting
Brazil Police fire tear gas as union workers go on strike
Police again fire tear gas as rioters regroup in Hong Kong
#EndSars anniversary: Police fire tear gas to disperse youths at Lekki tollgate
