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Venezuela: Protests Continue As Holidays Near

Colin Hale |
February 27, 2014 | 2:52 p.m. PST

Associate News Editor

Government forces shoot tear gas at protesters/via Twitter @acaballoregalao
Government forces shoot tear gas at protesters/via Twitter @acaballoregalao
Protesters continued to clash with government forces on Thursday throughout Venezuela despite the impromptu start of a week-long holiday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called for the week-long holiday honoring the March 5th anniversary of Hugo Chavez's death in attempts to get protesters off the streets. 

On Thursday, however, demonstrators continued to clash with police and national guard troops in Caracas and throughout the country.  Government forces fired tear gas canisters and water cannons in an attempt to prevent protesters from blocking a major highway in Venezuela's capital.

Protesters, including many university students, have vowed to remain on the streets until Maduro recognizes their demands or resigns.

A building in Caracas burns next to a mural of Nicolas Maduro/via Twitter @esosiequetetengo
A building in Caracas burns next to a mural of Nicolas Maduro/via Twitter @esosiequetetengo
"Maduro is mistaken," student leader Juan Requesens told the Associated Press. "We're going to continue in the street."

"We're not going to leave our democratic fight for six days at the beach."

Protesters have been building barricades throughout the city, lighting debris and tires on fire, in an attempt to disrupt and prevent government forces from raiding neighborhoods.

Read more about the Venezuela crisis at ABC News, Bloomberg, and BBC News.

Reach Executive Producer Colin Hale here. Follow him on Twitter.




 

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