Friday, 22nd November 2024

Clashes between opposition supporters and forces leave one dead in Venezuela

May Day clashes between opposition supporters and Venezuela’s armed forces in Caracas left a woman dead and 46 people injured

Thursday, 2nd May 2019

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - MAY 01: <> during a demonstration on May 1, 2019 in avenida Francisco de Miranda, sector La California Caracas, Venezuela. Yesterday, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, recognized by many members of the international community as the country's rightful interim ruler, urged an uprise to take Nicolas Maduro out of power. (Photo by Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)

May Day clashes between opposition supporters and Venezuela’s armed forces in Caracas left a woman dead and 46 people injured on Wednesday, with opposition leader Juan Guaido attempting to rally demonstrators against President Nicolas Maduro.

Jurubith Rausseo, 27, died at a clinic after being hit by a “bullet in the head during the demonstration,” the non-governmental Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict said on Twitter, condemning her “murder.”

Human rights organizations and health services reported 46 people injured in Wednesday’s clashes, including one person with a gunshot wound.

Guaido had called for the “largest march” in Venezuela’s history and said on Twitter that “millions of Venezuelans” were in the streets in “this final phase” of his move to oust Maduro.

Guaido invoked the constitution to declare himself acting president on January 23, claiming Maduro’s re-election last year was illegitimate.

National Guard troops fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters attempting to block a highway close to the airbase in eastern Caracas where Guaido had tried on Tuesday to spark a military uprising.

A second day of confrontations between opposition supporters and Maduro’s security services came as the United States said it was prepared to take military action, if necessary, to stem the crisis in the South American nation.

Guaido rallied his supporters in Caracas in the Labor Day demonstrations, urging them to stay in the streets.

His appeal came despite the apparent failure the day before of a revolt by some soldiers and members of the Bolivarian National Guard who joined his side.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Venezuela’s authorities not to use deadly force against demonstrators, while the U.S. and Russia accused each other of making the crisis worse, evoking Cold War confrontations of the past.

It was unclear what more Guaido can do at this point. The Venezuelan opposition has often staged huge street protests against Maduro but failed to dislodge him despite a deep economic recession and hyperinflation.