The news comes as protests dubbed "The takeover of Venezuela" are planned for Wednesday
ADVERTISEMENTVenezuela’s socialist government and opposition are to hold talks this coming Sunday.
A drive to hold a referendum to remove the unpopular President Nicolas Maduro was recently suspended.
There have been protests and a worsening political stand-off since then.
Many of the country’s 30 million people fear the situation will create more unrest in the nation.
It is already exhausted by political confrontation, a plunging economy and rampant crime.
Venezuela, opposition announce dialogue as protests brew https://t.co/nbVMrqMFYopic.twitter.com/6PIeQk0rkc
— Reuters Venezuela (@ReutersVzla) October 24, 2016
Images of the heavy toll of medicine and food shortages on the lives of Venezuelans
MeridithKohut</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VZLAcrisis?src=hash">#VZLAcrisis</a> <a href="https://t.co/YRQVFMTY5B">https://t.co/YRQVFMTY5B</a> <a href="https://t.co/N9ZcowFU89">pic.twitter.com/N9ZcowFU89</a></p>— HRW Venezuela (HRW_Venezuela) October 24, 2016
The details
The government, opposition and the Vatican’s envoy to Venezuela say the two sides will meet on Margarita Island for talks.
There is no indication Maduro will participate in Sunday’s talks.
What are the chances of success?
Slim, experts say.
Past conversations between the bitterly polarised sides have led to little progress.
The opposition says Maduro is inept and must leave office before the crisis worsens.
However, he has vowed not to be pushed out by what he describes as a power-hungry elite seeking a coup.
The backstory
Opponents say 53-year-old Maduro has veered openly into dictatorship.
They claim he has sidelined the opposition-led congress, jailed opponents and leaned on compliant judicial and electoral authorities to stop the referendum.
Turning up the pressure, the opposition-led National Assembly this weekend began proceedings to put Maduro on trial for violating democracy.
Venezuelan government accused of staging coup https://t.co/UL3cLCYy5s
— The Independent (@Independent) October 24, 2016
“We want freedom!”
Several hundred students have burned rubbish and set up roadblocks in the volatile border city of San Cristobal.
The city is a hotbed of anti-Maduro sentiment.
It was the site of the worst violence during protests two years ago that led to 43 deaths around the nation.
There were other scattered protests around Venezuela, including in the capital, Caracas.
ADVERTISEMENTThe protesters chanted, “We want freedom!”
Mainstream opposition leaders are concentrating their efforts on Wednesday this week.
Venezuela's opposition plans mass protests after government blocks recall referendum https://t.co/n2sKFUH6ZWpic.twitter.com/rbGjFjJuu5
— dwnews (@dwnews) October 22, 2016
Wednesday’s protests
The opposition has called for nationwide protests on Wednesday.
The day of rallies has been dubbed “The Takeover of Venezuela”.
The Vatican connection
Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, travelled to the Vatican on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENTHe met with Pope Francis, who urged him to alleviate people’s suffering to solve the crisis.
The Vatican agreed in September to accompany a dialogue between Maduro and his foes.
This has yet to get underway.
Pope received Venezuela's President Maduro in private audience this evening, Oct 24, seeking to contribute to helping resolve problems there
— Gerard O'Connell (@gerryorome) October 24, 2016
Angry scenes in the National Assembly
Maduro’s supporters stormed the opposition-led National Assembly on Sunday.
Lawmakers inside had vowed to put Maduro on trial for violating democracy.
ADVERTISEMENTThe session was briefly interrupted when around 100 apparently pro-government protesters stormed in, brandishing Socialist Party signs and shouting, “The Assembly will fall!” before officials herded them out.
The measure is unlikely to get any support.
However, observers say it marks a further escalation of political tension.
One of Reuters' photos of the day: Supporters of Venezuela's Maduro storm into a session of the National Assembly in Caracas. By
mabellog</a> <a href="https://t.co/e879WbEKSv">pic.twitter.com/e879WbEKSv</a></p>— Reuters Venezuela (ReutersVzla) October 24, 2016
Pro-govt supporters storm Venezuela's National Assembly after opposition lawmakers vow to put Maduro on trial for 'corruption' pic.twitter.com/AkDRs7aGyJ
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 24, 2016
What they are saying
“This dialogue is now crystallising,” – Socialist Party official Jorge Rodriguez says the Vatican and the regional bloc UNASUR will be present at talks on Sunday.