Mass protests in Venezuela against Maduro

(Patria) - Tens of thousands of Venezuelan citizens took to the streets to support opposition leader Juan Guaido, and in protest against the current president of that country, Nicolas Maduro, reports Patria.

The crisis in the country has worsened in recent months; in addition to inflation and shortages of food, water, and medicine, the population has been plunged into darkness due to frequent and prolonged power outages, which citizens attribute to Maduro's rule.

 

Today’s protest over power outages, water shortages, repression, and Maduro in general, in Caracas, #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/klLldXyh8i

— Emiliana Duarte (@emiduarte) April 6, 2019

 

Guaido leads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, and many Western countries support him and consider him the head of state.

The opposition leader called for protests on Saturday with the aim of overthrowing Maduro.

Guaido declared himself interim president in January, calling Maduro an 'usurper'.

'These are not just protests against the situation we are in, but protests for the definitive end of the usurpation,' Guaido explained when calling on citizens to take to the streets on April 6.

Citizens who protested in Caracas say they have been without water for days and are forced to use untreated water flowing from Mount Avila above the city.

The crowd chanted 'the water is gone, the electricity is gone, and now you must go too, Maduro,' Reuters writes.

Due to long periods of power outages, the government has suspended classes in schools, and many businesses have closed.

The Attorney General opened an investigation against Guaido for alleged connections to power outages and violence, but no charges have been filed against him.

In an effort to pressure Maduro, the US government imposed new sanctions on oil shipments from Venezuela on Friday, also announcing stronger action against Cuba for supporting the government.