Venezuela: Violent protests in Chavez home state

4/16/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • APTOPIX-Venezuela-Election-9

    Demonstrators, one holding a poster of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, confront riot police from behind a burning barricade in the Altamira neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday.

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • Demonstrators, one holding a poster of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, confront riot police from behind a burning barricade in the Altamira neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday.
    Demonstrators, one holding a poster of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, confront riot police from behind a burning barricade in the Altamira neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday.

    CARACAS, Venezuela— Violent protests have broken out in the provincial capital of the home state of the late President Hugo Chavez. Police have fired tear gas and plastic bullets at protesters demanding a recount of Sunday’s contested presidential election.

    National Guard troops and police in riot gear turned back about 2,000 backers of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in the southwestern state of Barinas. Opposition leaders reported 30 arrests today. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

    Capriles’ supporters also protested in provincial capitals including Merida and Maracay, denouncing what they call the illegitimate victory of Chavez heir Nicolas Maduro.

    In Caracas, Maduro said he would not permit an opposition march that Capriles called for Wednesday in the capital. His chief prosecutor, meanwhile, said seven people had been killed in protests.