Venezuela protests leave 35 dead, 850 arrested
A week of protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has left 35 people dead and 850 detained, non-governmental organisations said on Monday, according to AFP report.
“We have the corroborated figure, with first name, surname, place and presumed guilty parties, of 35 people murdered in the context of the protests” since Monday last week, said Rafael Uzcategui, director of the Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights.
Another NGO, Foro Penal, said 850 people, among them 77 minors, have been arrested.
At the same time, Pope Francis said he was terrified the political crisis enveloping the country would descend into a “bloodbath”.
The agency reminds that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido have been locked in a power struggle since Guaido proclaimed himself “acting president” Wednesday amid fierce protests over economic woes.