Venezuela opposition plans silent procession, road sit-ins

Violent clashes between supporters of the opposition and President Nicolas Maduro have hit Venezuela this month.

A protester carries a white flower during a silent protest in homage to the at least 20 people killed in unrest generated after the nation's Supreme Court stripped congress of its last powers, a decision it later reversed, ou.

"The democratic world must stand firm in support of the young men and women in Venezuela who are risking their lives for freedom and democracy by rejecting Nicolas Maduro's dictatorship", said Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation.

The Peruvian leader says he is working with other governments "to promote respect for democracy in the brother country of Venezuela". But the initial ruling reinvigorated Venezuela's fractious opposition, which had been struggling to channel growing disgust with Maduro over widespread food shortages, triple-digit inflation and rampant crime.

The violence began Thursday night and stretched into Friday in El Valle, an area historically known as a hot spot for political protest.

An officer tried to help but Altuna says police were unable to stop looters from breaking the windows of her business and violently grabbing refrigerators, lamps, security cameras and anything else they could seize.

During clashes in Caracas, six other people were injured, bringing the total number of wounded to 68.

He said on Friday that claims by the opposition that government forces were responsible for launching tear gas at a maternity hospital during a protest are just another attempt to demoralize a people who have "decided to break ties with the bourgeoisie forever".

Mass rallies began after the country's Supreme Court attempted to take on the legislative functions of the National Assembly, which is now controlled by the opposition.

The move made three weeks ago was reversed amid a storm of global criticism.

In a statement Friday, the Public Ministry said that the deaths occurred during demonstrations Thursday and Friday and that two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, were among the dead.

The Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias Maternal and Children's Hospital is located in the El Valle neighborhood of Caracas.

Protesters are demanding general elections, humanitarian aid, the release of political prisoners and the sacking of judges they accuse of trying to dissolve the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Opposition leaders marched with their arms wrapped around each other into western Caracas Saturday, vowing to continue protesting until new elections are granted.

Butcher shop owner Liliana Altuna, left, speaks with an employee inside her shop that was looted the night before, at El Valle neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 21, 2017.

Venezuela saw its bloodiest night of protests yet on Thursday, with 12 people killed in demonstrations and looting across the capital.