28 dead in Venezuela protests

Caracas, March 14: The death toll from violent protests that have rocked Venezuela for over a month has reached 28, with 365 others injured, an official said.

Venezuela's Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz in a telephone interview with a state-run TV channel said Thursday three National Guard members were among the dead, and of the injured, 109 were police or military personnel, reported Xinhua.

"That proves the demonstrations have not been peaceful, but violent," Ortega said, refuting media reports that protestors were mostly students and youth angered by food shortages and high inflation.

She said officials in the capital Caracas have seized 25 firearms, more than 200 explosive devices, "including Molotov cocktails and C4 (explosives)".

Ortega said she has told the United Nations Human Rights Council that the Venezuelan government plans to punish those responsible for the violence as part of efforts to regain peace and order.

IANS