Thousands of Venezuelans demonstrate against opposition leader ban

Thousands took to the streets of Venezuela to protest against the country’s unpopular President, Nicolas Maduro, in support of banned opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Thousands of people, some carrying signs reading “Dictator Maduro!” and “Elections now!” in support of banned opposition leader Henrique Capriles, took part in the protest.

The demonstrations in the capital and several other cities came a day after Maduro’s government prohibited Capriles from running for office for 15 years.

The ban capped a turbulent 10 day-crackdown that saw pro-government groups attack several opposition leaders.

At least 17 people were treated for injuries, Ramon Muchacho, a Caracas-area mayor where the demonstration took place.

Police in Caracas fired tear gas and rubber bullets at some of the protesters amid a weeklong protest movement that shows little sign of losing steam.

The week-long protests, which show no signs of abating, were triggered by the Supreme Court’s decision to gut the opposition-controlled legislature of its last vestiges of power, a move that was later reversed amid widespread international condemnation and even dissent within Maduro’s normally disciplined socialist leadership.

“Nobody can disqualify the Venezuelan people,” an emotional Capriles said, as he called on protesters to march to the ombudsman’s office downtown.

As the most dominant figure in the opposition over the past decade, Capriles has been at the forefront of the protests, the most aggressive since a wave of anti-government unrest in 2014, in which dozens of people were killed, many at the hands of security forces.

The opposition refers to the events as an “ongoing coup” by the government which has energised and united the normally fractious opposition.

As the sea of protesters approached the headquarters of a state-run PDVSA oil company, the protesters were faced with rubber bullets and a curtain of eye-scorching tear gas.

Chaos ensued, with riot police racing down windy streets, avoiding objects thrown from tall apartment buildings as they deployed to squash the unrest.

Later, a small group of youths unsuccessfully tried to set fire to a Supreme Court office building.

The opposition leadership condemned any form of violence. Adding that Maduro’s tenacity was the real blame, for fuelling unrest.

Another protest was called on Monday. But with Caracas shutting down for the Easter holiday which Maduro extended by decree for three extra days they appeared to be saving their strength for a major demonstration which has been called for on April 19th.

Around most of Caracas, checkpoints were set up to search cars and frisk bus passengers even miles away from the clashes.