Americas

Americas

Three more die in Venezuela political unrest

23 March 2014 04:53 (UTC +04:00)

A forty-year-old man, identified as Jesus Orlando Labrador, was hit by a bullet on Saturday in the southwestern city of Merida during a shoot-out between armed protesters burning tires and hooded gunmen on motorcycles.

Labrador died minutes after arriving at the hospital. Four others suffered gunshot wounds in the incident.

Another victim, Argenis Hernandez, 26, was shot in the stomach Friday by an angry motorist as he and other protesters manned a barricade on a highway outside the central city of Valencia. He died early on Saturday in a nearby hospital

Bus driver Wilfredo Rey, 31, died on Friday night after being shot in the head during a confrontation between demonstrators and hooded gunmen in the western city of San Cristobal. Local residents said Rey had not been involved in the protests.

Venezuela has been the scene of violent pro- and anti-government demonstrations since early February.

The opposition criticizes the government for the high crime rate and economic hardships in the country, claiming that the policies of the administration of President Nicolas Maduro have led to a shortage of essential goods and a high inflation rate.

This is while the Venezuelan government says the United States is fanning the flames of the unrest in an effort to topple Maduro.

The Venezuelan leader ordered the expulsion of three US consular officials last month, accusing them of meeting with student protest leaders, under the guise of offering them visas, to destabilize the country.