Number of detainees in Venezuela election protests rises to 1,200

By Sinan Dogan

CARACAS, Venezuela (AA) — The number of people in Venezuela detained in clashes between security forces and protesters disputing the results of recent a presidential election has risen to 1,200.

A statement from the country's Bolivarian National Guard said on Wednesday that some of those arrested had received special training in Peru, Chile, and Colombia and were directly inciting terror and violence on the streets.

On the arrests, President Nicolas Maduro said 80% of Venezuelans returning to the country from the US were involved in criminal activity.

Meanwhile, Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab said 77 members of the security forces were injured during the demonstrations, with a probe launched into the incidents.

- Election in Venezuela

Venezuelan voters went to the polls on Sunday to elect the Latin American country's president.

The country's National Electoral Council announced that Maduro won a third term with 51.2% of the vote.

In a statement on Monday, the opposition claimed that the council's data was not accurate and that the election had been rigged.

Subsequent protests against the results claimed the lives of 17 people, including a soldier, amid clashes between security forces and demonstrators.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul