VENEZUELA: Violence fears as strike action begins

The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) has warned of a “calamitous deterioration” of the situation in Venezuela. “The fear we have, and which we are afraid to say out loud, is that this situation could turn into a bloodbath,” he said. The warning came shortly before a 24-hour strike began on Thursday. […]

The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) has warned of a “calamitous deterioration” of the situation in Venezuela.

“The fear we have, and which we are afraid to say out loud, is that this situation could turn into a bloodbath,” he said.

The warning came shortly before a 24-hour strike began on Thursday.

Previous opposition protests have ended in clashes and almost 100 people have been killed since the start of April.

Protesters barricaded roads in the capital, Caracas, and other cities.

Opposition websites showed photos of deserted streets in Caracas while government supporters tweeted pictures of themselves at work to show they were not joining in the strike. 

In his third report on the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, Mr Almagro accused President Nicolás Maduro’s government of having “blood on its hands”.