Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Venezuela violence: UN says at least 40 killed and 850 detained in recent unrest

Venezuela violence: UN says at least 40 killed and 850 detained in recent unrest
Copyright  Reuters: People take part in a protest as police stand guard in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2019 No Archive
Copyright Reuters: People take part in a protest as police stand guard in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2019
By Euronews
Published on Updated
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button

At least 40 people are believed killed and 850 others detained in Venezuela's recent violence, the United Nations says.

ADVERTISEMENT

At least 40 people are believed to have been killed and 850 others detained in Venezuela's recent violence, the United Nations says.

Rupert Colville, the UN's human rights spokesman, said 26 were shot by government forces, five were killed in house raids and 11 died during looting.

More than 850 people were detained between January 21-26, including 77 children, some as young as 12, he added.

It comes after Congress chief Juan Guaido declared himself Venezuela's interim president on January 23 amid dissatisfaction with incumbent Nicolas Maduro.

On that day, 696 people across Venezuela were detained, said Colville, the highest daily number in two decades.

Maduro has faced growing criticism after securing a second presidential term in a widely-boycotted election last year that was marred by widespread allegations of vote rigging.

He has also overseen an economic crisis that has forced millions of Venezuelans to flee, mostly to other South American countries.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Latest US 'narco boat' strike kills six off Venezuelan coast

Venezuela to close embassy in Norway after opposition leader wins Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuela shows off Russian fighter jets in Caribbean military exercise amid tensions with US