Tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets of Venezuela's capital city Thursday, calling for a recall vote of President Nicolas Maduro.
The peaceful demonstrators filled three major avenues in the eastern part of Caracas, as police officers in riot gear watched. Protesters argue that Maduro's government is behind country's shortages of food, medicine, and vital supplies, as well as other economic problems; experts predict Venezuela's economy will shrink by 10 percent this yer, with inflation rising by 700 percent. "There is no food," protester Maria Alvarez told CNN en Español. "There is no paper. There is no medicine. We are dying. Please, help Venezuela. This has to end. Maduro, you have to understand that your time is up."
Opposition parties have long been pushing for a referendum on Maduro's presidency, and leaders said this was the first of many protests. Maduro told his supporters a coup could take place, and "if a day comes and you see that something happens to President Nicolas Maduro... go into the streets and get justice." At least six opposition leaders have been detained over the last few days, accused of conspiring against the government.
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