Venezuela: Crisis worsens as security forces fire at protesters; 2 killed


Caracas, Feb 23: The ongoing crisis in Venezuela turned worse on Friday, February 22, when the security forces opened fire on a group of protesters who tried to prevent them from blocking the border with its biggest neighbour Brazil to the South.

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At least two persons were killed while several others were injured in the clashes that took place over the order of the country's cornered president, Nicolas Maduro, over shutting down the border with Brazil to stop entry of humanitarian aid. The Maduro establishment fears that some external forces would try to topple it through the means of external aid.

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The government has also blocked the country's border with its western neighbour Colombia. The deceased were claimed to be a woman and her husband, according to the human rights group Kapé Kapé, reported the BBC.

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Friday's clash happened as thousands of people participated in the two rival concerts on either side of a bridge linking Venezuela with Colombia. Juan Guaido, the Opposition leader who declared himself as the country's interim president on January 23 sparking off the latest controversy, took part in the Colombian event along with several leaders from Latin America.

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Guaido and countries like the US backing him have urged Maduro to allow humanitarian goods into Venezuela saying such a stance was depriving its population which is already facing a lot of economic hardships.

Around 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015.

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