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Shots Heard in Caracas During Election Protests, Defense Ministry Says 20 Injured

© AP Photo / Cristian HernandezProtesters demonstrating against the official election results declaring President Nicolas Maduro's reelection ride through tear gas fired by police the day after the vote in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Protesters demonstrating against the official election results declaring President Nicolas Maduro's reelection ride through tear gas fired by police the day after the vote in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez) - Sputnik International, 1920, 29.07.2024
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CARACAS (Sputnik) - Shots were heard on the streets of Caracas during protests, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene.
The presidential elections were held in Venezuela the day before, and the current head of state, Nicolas Maduro, won.
Several shots were heard, causing a large number of people to flee from open areas on the street.
Clashes between police and protesters are taking place in the historic center of Caracas, the approaches to the presidential palace of Miraflores are blocked.
September 3, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro during their meeting in the Diaoyutai state guest house in Beijing - Sputnik International, 1920, 29.07.2024
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In the central districts of Caracas, there are hundreds of people armed with sticks, some with Molotov cocktails. Most are covered with scarves and bandanas. Protesters are throwing and burning construction debris in the middle of the roadway.
On some streets, police are using tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. The buildings of the Venezuelan National Assembly and the National Electoral Council (CNE) in central Caracas are being heavily guarded by security forces.
Protests began in various cities in Venezuela on Monday evening.
National Guard officers on motorcycles can also be seen on the roads of Caracas, some wearing gas masks.
The banging of pots and pans is heard everywhere — a common form of protest in Latin America.
More than 20 military personnel were injured during the unrest in Venezuela, some with gunshot wounds, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Tuesday.
"At the moment, we have 23 wounded #FANB troops, some with firearms, victims of today's violent acts. They receive medical care," he said on X.
The minister called on citizens and political forces in the country to remain calm.
So far, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, the European Union, Italy, Ireland, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, the United States and Uruguay have either refused to recognize the election results or are waiting for a transparent recount of votes.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with his ministers at the Humboldt Hotel at El Avila mountain in La Guaira, Venezuela, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 04.04.2024
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However, several countries including Russia, Cuba, Iran, China, Bolivia, Guinea-Bissau, Serbia, Nicaragua and Honduras have already sent congratulatory messages to Maduro.
Maduro implied that there are foreign actors behind the opposition to his electoral win, saying there was a failed "massive hack" by a "foreign actor," but did not specify which country he thought was behind the attack.

"Venezuela expresses its strong condemnation of the actions and statements that are in the nature of interference by a group of right-wing governments subordinate to Washington trying to revive the failed 'Lima Group' and seeking not to recognize the results of the elections of July 28, 2024," a statement from the government says.

Venezuela is also recalling its diplomats from a number of Latin American countries that did not recognize the results of the presidential elections, the government said in a statement on Monday.
"The Venezuelan government, in the context of these events that are directed against national sovereignty, has decided to recall its diplomats from Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, and at the same time to demand that these governments immediately recall their representatives from Venezuelan territory," the government said.
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