Venezuela opposition vows fresh protests despite deaths

A day after two Venezuelan students and a National Guard sergeant were shot dead during protests on Wednesday, opponents of the Venezuelan government vowed fresh protests in their bid to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

A 17-year-old boy, a 23-year-old woman and a soldier outside Caracas died after being shot Wednesday during passive protests, bringing to eight the number of people killed this month in a mounting political crisis.

The opposition blames the deaths on security forces and alleged paramilitary groups. Over 400 people were arrested during protests on Wednesday, rights group Penal Forum said.

Opposition supporters protested in Caracas and other cities in what they called "the mother of all marches," denouncing Maduro for eroding democracy and plunging the oil-rich economy into chaos.

The opposition has accused Maduro of letting state forces and gangs of armed thugs violently repress demonstrators as he resists opposition pressure for him to quit.

Maduro says that beneath a peaceful facade, the protests are little more than opposition efforts to foment a coup to end socialism in Venezuela. The opposition says he has morphed into a dictator and accuses his government of using armed civilians to spread violence and fear.

The opposition called for another protest on Thursday, raising the specter of prolonged disruption in Venezuela.

"Same place, same time," said opposition leader Henrique Capriles on Wednesday night. "If we were millions today, tomorrow we'll be more."