{Tear gas fired and four arrests made in Caracas during rallies demanding passage of referendum to remove the president.}<\/p>\n
Riot police firing tear gas have blocked a 1,000-strong anti-government protest in the centre of Caracas, one of 20 opposition rallies occurring across Venezuela.<\/p>\n
Wednesday’s demonstrations in the capital were the first major test of a state of emergency that President Nicolas Maduro imposed this week that gives broad powers to security forces in order to ensure public order.<\/p>\n
The protesters were demanding authorities to stop stalling over a recall referendum called for by a petition with 1.8 million signatures. Maduro has called the referendum “not viable”.<\/p>\n
In Caracas, hundreds of officers with shields, helmets and pepper spray formed a barrier to prevent the protest, headed by opposition leader Henrique Capriles, from reaching the headquarters of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which has been parsing the petition for two weeks.<\/p>\n
‘Explosion of frustration’<\/p>\n
A total of 14 metro stations in the heart of Caracas were closed on Wednesday for “operational reasons”.<\/p>\n
“The referendum can be held this year, and you know this. Let’s avoid an explosion of public frustration,” Capriles said at the demonstration.<\/p>\n
Some police fired tear gas at the demonstrators, a few of whom threw stones and bottles. AFP news agency reporters saw at least four people arrested.<\/p>\n
Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from Caracas, said the latest events will put more pressure on Maduro.<\/p>\n
“The protesters and opposition leaders are of course calling for a referendum to remove Maduro from power. They have started the process already and are trying to push that through before the end of this year,” he said.<\/p>\n
“However, we have seen bigger numbers of people on the streets in the past. There is still not a widespread of mobilisation of Venezuelans.”<\/p>\n
Threats to security<\/p>\n
Maduro’s 60-day state of emergency was imposed on Monday to tackle what he said were threats to domestic and external security, as well as critical food and energy shortages.<\/p>\n
He claims the adversity he is facing is manipulated by US interference working with Venezuela’s “fascist” right.<\/p>\n
Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz said the referendum was a “trap” and called on the opposition to focus on scheduled elections in December 2019.<\/p>\n
“If you win, Maduro will give up power. Easy. What’s the problem?” Isturiz said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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