Thousands of opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took to the streets on Saturday to express outrage over the country's deepening economic crisis, seeking to rebuild momentum sapped after a string of electoral defeats.
The nationwide day of protests was the first called by opposition leader Henrique Capriles since he lost by a thin margin to Maduro in April's snap election following the death of Hugo Chavez and came just two weeks before key mayoral elections.
Reflecting a certain fatigue that besets both sides in this deeply polarized nation, only about 5,000 people gathered at Plaza Venezuela in Caracas to march with Capriles — a far cry from the masses that flooded Caracas's avenues during his final rally during the presidential campaign. Still, turnout was greater than recent government-organized acts.
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