Venezuelans rally to support opposition after disputed vote
The Hindu
Opposition protests erupt in Venezuela after disputed election, leading to violence, arrests, and international calls for transparency.
Thousands of Venezuelans gathered on Tuesday in a peaceful show of opposition support a day after 12 persons died and hundreds were arrested during protests against President Nicolas Maduro's disputed presidential election victory.
They chanted "Freedom! Freedom!" and "We are not afraid!" at a mass rally in the capital Caracas, where opposition leaders insisted they had the numbers for a convincing victory.
International calls mounted for the Maduro-aligned National Electoral Council (CNE) to release a detailed vote breakdown to back its awarding of Sunday's election to him.
Mr. Maduro said the opposition would be held responsible for "criminal violence... the wounded, the dead, the destruction" associated with protests.
The Foro Penal human rights NGO said at least 11 persons — two of them minors — had died in what its head Alfredo Romero described as "a crisis of human rights."
Dozens more were injured, and at least 177 arrested, he said, while authorities reported more than 700 arrests.
The military has reported one death and 23 injuries among its ranks.