Venezuelan opposition activists protest economic woes
Thousands of opposition activists in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas have staged a rally to protest the government’s economic policies.
The protest march on Saturday marked the first opposition effort in months to renew the US-backed anti-government protest movement that rocked the oil-rich Latin American nation in 2014.
Despite the deteriorating economic conditions of the country amid the recent 50 percent drop in the price of oil in world markets, the crowds of protesters were much smaller than in previous opposition rallies.
Venezuela, a major oil producer and member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has been hit hard by the falling oil prices over the past months.
The development comes as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged the country’s National Assembly on Friday to launch an inquiry into what he referred to as "an economic war" waged against the nation.
He accused four major supermarket chains of hoarding goods and smuggling consumer items out of the country in an effort to generate more economic hardship.
"For many years they have been hiding goods from the Venezuelan people. They have a system to spread rumors and create problems, anxiety and queues," Maduro said.
"Enough of sabotage against the people," he emphasized, vowing to “produce the evidence” of such efforts this week.
Maduro has also accused Washington, which is widely believed to be backing the Venezuelan opposition, of flooding the markets with oil as part of an economic war against his nation as well as Russia and Iran.
Meanwhile during the demonstrations on Saturday, many protesters banged on empty pots to highlight the shortage of many staple foods as riot police blocked protesters’ access to the city center.
No major violence was reported during the protest march.
MFB/BB/KA
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