CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) — Venezuela’s National Guard used tear gas and a water canon on protesters in Caracas on Thursday (May 18) as tensions spilled over after a march against President Nicolas Maduro’s interior minister was blockaded by armored vehicles.
A heavy-powered water canon knocked down protesters and streams of tear gas canisters aimed at the crowd filled the air as demonstrators threw rocks and used sling shots against the national guard.
Opposition lawmakers were among the crowd of protesters and had appealed to national guard troops to let the demonstrators continue with their march, but they were reportedly rejected.
Protesters are angry at Interior Minister Nestor Reverol over a wave of arrests made at protests against Maduro.
Rights group Penal Forum says 1,991 people have been detained during protests since April, with 653 still behind bars. Opposition leaders have also complained the government is processing 250 detainees via military courts.
The death toll from Venezuela’s protests against President Nicolas Maduro has topped 40, with government critics demanding early elections in the face of product shortages and spiralling inflation.