CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Police and demonstrators clashed in the streets of Venezuela’s capital Monday as an intensifying protest movement opposing the socialist government entered its second month.
Opposition leaders calling for President Nicolas Maduro’s ouster had urged supporters to converge on government buildings in downtown Caracas, but police blocked the marchers’ path – just as they have more than a dozen times during four weeks of near-daily protests. Officers launched tear gas and chased people away from main thoroughfares as the peaceful march turned into chaos.
Opposition lawmaker Jose Olivares was hit in the head with a tear gas canister and was led away with blood streaming down his face. Some demonstrators threw stones and gasoline bombs and dragged trash into the streets to make barricades.
A separate government-sponsored march celebrating May Day went off without incident.
Between the two demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of people filled central roads and highways of the city.