New Protests Erupt in Venezuela Amid Rising Anger Over Disputed Election Results.

New protests are underway in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, following Sunday’s disputed presidential election result. Thousands gathered in the city center to reject President Nicolas Maduro’s claim of victory. Many of the protesters said they would continue until a new government is put in place, although some felt they could only be successful if security forces joined their cause.

So far, the military and police have generally stuck by President Maduro and have employed tear gas and rubber bullets against some of the demonstrators. Local officials said 750 people had been arrested, while two leading non-governmental organizations said several people were killed and dozens wounded.

Venezuela’s defense minister on Tuesday described street protests by opponents of Nicolas Maduro as a “coup.” General Vladimir Padrino appeared on state television surrounded by several dozen heavily armed soldiers and spoke of the military’s “absolute loyalty and unconditional support” for President Maduro. The attorney general, who is a key ally of Maduro, put the count at one soldier dead in the unrest.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado implored the demonstrators to keep protests peaceful and not to be taken in by provocations they said were being staged by the government. “Our candidate won 70% of the vote. We were able to unify an entire nation and the Venezuelans who always supported Maduro today are with us,” she said.

An anonymous anti-government protester was said to have cited evidence of electoral fraud, “We are absolutely sure the election was stolen. The government stopped all the tallies halfway through the night.” They also mentioned that even ex-supporters of Hugo Chavez, called Chavistas, who used to support him, are removing the support they have for Maduro.

The protests erupted after the chief of the National Electoral Council (CNE), a former legal advisor of Maduro’s party, pronounced Maduro elected for a third term. It was said to be with 51% of the votes against Edmundo González, who had 44%. However, the exact details of voting counts had not been provided, which prompted the opposition to cry fraud.

The Organization of American States (OAS) condemned the vote. Now, most of the opposition parties have supported González and re-audited 73.2% of the voting counts. They say that González was the winner by a considerable margin. “We have the records showing our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory,” González said. Nonetheless, on Monday, the CNE reiterated that all the votes have been accounted for and the winner is Maduro.

Attorney General Tarek Saab, a one-time government loyalist, promised to prosecute those detained for “obstructing the exercise of power.” The opposition party Popular Will said its coordinator for the National Assembly, Freddy Superlano, was among those arrested.

Julio Derbis from Petare, a slum on the outskirts of Caracas, said he believed street pressure would be essential in rolling back Maduro’s hold on power. Another protester, Karina Pinto, stressed the need for their protests to be taken to the streets. “We are betting on the security forces to be with the people,” she said.

There were also supporters of President Maduro in the streets declaring their allegiance. One of them was Nancy Ramones. “I’m supporting my government, the one who won. If the opposition claims fraud, they have to prove it. This is a coup that we are not going to allow; we are patriots,” vowed an unwavering González.

Opposition parties had rallied behind González to try to unseat Maduro, in power for 11 years amid widespread discontent. Almost 7.8 million people have left Venezuela under Maduro’s administration. The human rights chief of the United Nations, Volker Turk, expressed deep concern about the escalated tension and violence. He insisted that rights be respected for all Venezuelans to assemble and protest peacefully.