President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with USA connivance, while the opposition says he is a dictator repressing peaceful protest. But the government has ruled out an early presidential election this year as opposition leaders have demanded.
But all of the action, into its fourth week, is also fueled by a crippling economic crisis.
A demonstrator uses a home made gas mask during clashes with riot police while rallying against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela April 24, 2017. The opposition says he is a dictator, repressing peaceful protest. "And the only way for us to put an end to all this is protesting on the street".
The two killings raised to 23 the number of deaths linked to unrest that began nearly a month ago over the Supreme Court's decision to gut the opposition-controlled congress of its powers.
Following a familiar daily pattern, the demonstrations were largely peaceful until mid-afternoon, when scattered skirmishes broke out and the shooting incidents occurred.
"In the morning they appear peaceful, in the afternoon they turn into terrorists and at night bandits and killers", senior Socialist Party official Diosdado Cabello said. "Let me tell them straight: we're not going, Nicolas (Maduro) is not going". "Nicolas (Maduro) is not going".
Maduro, who says Venezuela is the victim of a US-led capitalist plot, has stepped up a nationalization drive started by his late predecessor Hugo Chavez that has swept up plants and assets of foreign companies, including American ones.
Although the Supreme Court repealed the ruling three days later, this was not enough to assuage anti-government protesters.
- 'No more repression!' - ========================= The courts and electoral authorities have fended off efforts to remove Maduro since the opposition took over the legislature in January 2016.
North Korea Preparing for Major Military Parade Ahead of National Holiday
Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to... "It is not the DPRK but the United States and Trump that makes problems", he said. North Korea has a habit of fueling tensions to increase the rewards it might extract from the outside world if it desists.
A fireman tries to extinguish a fire during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela April 24, 2017.
The government's disqualification from public office of two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who would be an opposition favourite to replace Maduro, gave further impetus to the demonstrations.
"I'm staying here until 6 p.m".
"We don't want more violence, more dead people because of this regime, which is a criminal regime. And the only way for us to put an end to all this is protesting in the street".
Facing exhortations from around the world to allow Venezuelans to vote, Maduro has called for local state elections - delayed from past year - to be held soon.
The opposition has demanded the government hold fresh elections as soon as possible, but although Maduro has agreed, a date has yet to be set.
CARACAS, Venezuela-Protesters sprawled in lawn chairs, worked on math homework and played cards on main roads around Venezuela's cities on Monday, joining in sit-ins to disrupt traffic as the latest slap at the socialist government.
There have been anti-government protests across cities in Venezuela nearly daily this month, while government supporters have been holding marches to show their loyalty to President Maduro.
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