CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Thousands of Venezuelans who oppose their country’s socialist-led government have held a peaceful rally in the capital to protest the detention of an opposition leader and to call for an early presidential election.
Anti-government activists massed to voice support for hard-line opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who has been held in a military prison since being arrested in February on charges of fomenting violence as a result of the initial protests. A judge ordered last week that Lopez proceed trial.
Those at Sunday’s protest also renewed their call for President Nicolas Maduro to leave office and for Venezuela to hold a new presidential election.
During the gathering in east Caracas, leaders of the student movement that has spearheaded the anti-government demonstrations this year called for a new protest on June 24.
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