Protests intensify against Venezuela’s Maduro

Riot police firing tear gas have blocked a 1,000-strong anti-government protest in the centre of Caracas, one of 20 opposition rallies occurring across Venezuela.

Wednesday’s demonstrations in the capital were the first major test of a state of emergency that President Nicolas Maduro imposed this week that gives broad powers to security forces in order to ensure public order.

 The protesters were demanding authorities to stop stalling over a recall referendum called for by a petition with 1.8 million signatures. Maduro has called the referendum “not viable”.

 In Caracas, hundreds of officers with shields, helmets and pepper spray formed a barrier to prevent the protest, headed by opposition leader Henrique Capriles, from reaching the headquarters of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which has been parsing the petition for two weeks.

A total of 14 metro stations in the heart of Caracas were closed on Wednesday for “operational reasons”.

“The referendum can be held this year, and you know this. Let’s avoid an explosion of public frustration,” Capriles said at the demonstration.