Venezuelan Opposition Protests Food Shortage

Venezuela's Democratic Unity Roundtable main opposition coalition reportedly organized a march in Caracas in protest against food shortages.

MEXICO CITY, January 25 (Sputnik) – Venezuela's main opposition coalition MUD (Democratic Unity Roundtable) has organized a march in Caracas in protest against food shortages caused by the economic crisis in the country, BBC Mundo reports.

According to BBC Mundo, the march attracted thousands of people and was attended by Governor of the Venezuelan state of Miranda, Henrique Capriles, who is one of the main leaders of the opposition.

Demonstrators who support the opposition shouts slogans near people who were lining outside a supermarket to buy basic goods when it closed shortly for the day due to the ongoing protest in Caracas January 24, 2015

© REUTERS / Jorge Silva

Rallies were also held in other Venezuelan states, including Zulia, Sucre and Carabobo, BBC Mundo said.

A series of protest against high levels of violence, record inflation and shortages of basic goods took place across Venezuela between February and June of last year. The Venezuelan government deemed the protests to be coup attempts and arrested a number of opposition leaders.

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© REUTERS / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

People queue to buy goods in a Mega-Mercal, a subsidized state-run street market, in Caracas January 24, 2015. President Nicolas Maduro shook up complex currency controls on Wednesday and also prepared Venezuelans for a rise in the world's cheapest fuel prices in response to a recession worsened by plunging oil revenue. The socialist-run OPEC member's economy shrank 2.8 percent in 2014 while inflation topped 64 percent, the socialist leader announced in a speech to parliament, in what is almost certainly the worst performance in Latin America.

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© REUTERS / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

People argue with Venezuelan soldiers as they try to buy chickens at a Mega-Mercal, a subsidized state-run street market, in Caracas January 24, 2015. President Nicolas Maduro shook up complex currency controls on Wednesday and also prepared Venezuelans for a rise in the world's cheapest fuel prices in response to a recession worsened by plunging oil revenue. The socialist-run OPEC member's economy shrank 2.8 percent in 2014 while inflation topped 64 percent, the socialist leader announced in a speech to parliament, in what is almost certainly the worst performance in Latin America.

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© REUTERS / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

People queue to buy goods in a Mega-Mercal, a subsidized state-run street market, in Caracas January 24, 2015. President Nicolas Maduro shook up complex currency controls on Wednesday and also prepared Venezuelans for a rise in the world's cheapest fuel prices in response to a recession worsened by plunging oil revenue. The socialist-run OPEC member's economy shrank 2.8 percent in 2014 while inflation topped 64 percent, the socialist leader announced in a speech to parliament, in what is almost certainly the worst performance in Latin America.

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© REUTERS / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

People argue with Venezuelan soldiers as they try to buy chickens at a Mega-Mercal, a subsidized state-run street market, in Caracas January 24, 2015. President Nicolas Maduro shook up complex currency controls on Wednesday and also prepared Venezuelans for a rise in the world's cheapest fuel prices in response to a recession worsened by plunging oil revenue. The socialist-run OPEC member's economy shrank 2.8 percent in 2014 while inflation topped 64 percent, the socialist leader announced in a speech to parliament, in what is almost certainly the worst performance in Latin America.

In December, US President Barack Obama approved sanctions on Venezuela, targeting individuals who are allegedly responsible for human rights violations during February protests against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro warned that the imposition of sanctions would worsen relations between the two countries, describing the move as imperialist and disrespectful.