Fresh clashes at opposition march in Venezuela

By Nancy Caouette

MEXICO CITY (AA) – Thousands of Venezuelans marched on central Caracas on Wednesday in a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro.

Riot police were deployed, firing tear gas and water cannons in order to stop the march.

"It’s a savage repression against thousands and thousands of people who are defending Venezuela’s people," said the leader of the opposition, Henrique Capriles on Twitter Tuesday.

In April, the opposition has organized seven protests to demand early elections to replace Maduro.

According to the attorney general, 26 people have been killed -- including four minors -- in the current wave of protests that began at the end of March.

In a speech on Tuesday night, Maduro said the protests have led to 29 deaths, without giving further details.

"We will defeat violence and this coup d'etat," he said.

The current wave of protests broke out after the Supreme Court took over powers from the opposition-controlled National Assembly on March 30.

The Court backpedaled on its decision three days later, but thousands of opposition protesters were already in the streets.

The opposition accuses security forces of using brutality to repress peaceful marches. The government, on the other hand, puts the blame on the opposition for encouraging violence to destabilize the Maduro administration.