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Venezuela protests turn deadly; Maduro accuses opponents of coup plot
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-venezuela-protests-20140213,0,437076.storyVenezuela protests turn deadly; Maduro accuses opponents of coup plot
By Mery Mogollon and Chris Kraul
February 13, 2014, 10:35 a.m.
CARACAS, Venezuela -- In the wake of civil unrest that left three dead and scores injured in the Venezuelan capital and other cities on Wednesday, President Nicolas Maduro said he would order the arrest of opposition leaders who he claimed were plotting an overthrow.
Maduro’s comments at a military parade in the northern Aragua state Wednesday night came after violence erupted in the capital, Caracas, between tens of thousands of student demonstrators and armed supporters of the government who, according to observers, fired into crowds, causing stampedes and chaos.
“We’re facing an evolving coup d’etat, and the Bolivarean revolution will triumph,” Maduro said in an address broadcast on national television.
Maduro said he had authorized the arrest of former ambassador Fernando Gerbasi and retired navy Vice Admiral Ivan Carratu. News reports Thursday said a local judge had signed an order for the arrest of former Caracas borough mayor and opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.
