Venezuelan pro-, anti-govt. supporters to hold fresh rallies
Iran Press TV
Sat Feb 22, 2014 6:56PM GMT
Venezuela is embroiled in tensions with both supporters and opponents of President Nicolas Maduro planning to hold rival rallies in the capital Caracas and elsewhere in the country.
Female supporters of the president organized rallies in the capital on Saturday to stress their allegiance to President Maduro.
The rival camp in the opposition has also promised protest marches all across the country in a public show of discontent over high crime rates and food shortages.
President Maduro has accused the US-backed opposition of seeking to topple his government by igniting violent clashes that erupted during protests since February 12.
The Venezuelan government has already expelled three US Embassy staff members for attempting to infiltrate universities and provoke unrest across the country.
Maduro has also dismissed US President Obama's calls for releasing prisoners as an act of interference in his country's internal affairs and an attempt to mislead the world's public opinion.
The Venezuelan president described his government's efforts to restore calm in the country as a struggle against violent criminals who are trying to overthrow the Bolivarian government with the support of Washington.
Earlier on Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry slammed the Venezuelan president for using force against anti-government protesters.
'The government's use of force and judicial intimidation against citizens and political figures, who are exercising a legitimate right to protest, is unacceptable and will only increase the likelihood of violence,' John Kerry said.
In recent weeks, the country has seen a wave of violent protests that have left at least eight people dead and over 100 injured on both sides.
MOL/AB/SS
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