Opposition supporters have gathered across Venezuela to protest against Nicolas Maduro’s disputed victory in last month’s presidential election.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado joined thousands of protesters in the capital, Caracas, and urged them not to be afraid.
Ms Machado, who had been in hiding after being accused of insurrection, said there was nothing above the voice of the people, and that the people had spoken.
Police and the army were deployed in force as supporters of Mr Maduro also held a demonstration.
“We won’t leave the streets,” Ms Machado told protesters, with many of them waving copies of election records from their voting stations as proof of victory.
Ms Machado, who was banned from running in the election, had called for nationwide protests to intensify pressure on Mr Maduro to concede.
Some demonstrators seemed determined to carry on.
Mr Maduro has insisted he won a third six-year term, but the opposition released tallies it said showed its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, winning by a wide margin.
Speaking from an unidentified location, Mr Gonzalez said it was time for an “orderly transition”.
At his rival rally, Mr Maduro mocked Mr Gonzalez, saying he was “living in a cave”.
The electoral commission, controlled by allies of Mr Maduro, has refused to release detailed results, but declared he won with 52% of the vote. Independent observers said it lacked transparency.
Credit: bbc.com
