Venezuela opposition launches protests to oust Maduro 베네주엘라 야당 현 대통령 마두로를 쫓아내려는 움직임 전개하다 (oust: 축출하다, 쫓아내다)

Opposition supporters take part in a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, March 12, 2016. — Image captionOpposition supporters carried and wore the red, yellow and blue of the Venezuelan flag.

Venezuela's opposition has held a day of protests to launch a new campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Crowds marched in Caracas and other cities to express their anger at the country's economic crisis and called on the president to stand down. (밝은 하늘: 베네주엘라 야당과 시민들이 집회를 한 이유는 두 가지. 하나는 경제위기에 대한 분노. 또 하나는 이런 상태를 방조한 무능한 대통령 마두로의 하야 요구. 이런 기사를 접하면 한국에서도 떠오르는 얼굴(?)이 있다.)

Mr Maduro led a protest in the capital against the renewal of US sanctions on top Venezuelan officials.

The opposition has made clear it intends to use street power to force Mr Maduro from office.

Saturday's protests marked the launch of Venezuela's opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

An opposition supporter with his face painted with the colours of the Venezuelan national flag and the word — Image captionThe opposition is demanding the resignation of President Maduro

One opposition protester Enrique Alvarado in Caracas told Reuters news agency: "The people have come to the street and will not return to their houses until Nicolas Maduro resigns."

Another marcher, Jose Zambrano, said: "I came because what we want is change, because we cannot continue standing in line to buy medicine, food, for everything, for car parts, for everything."

Last week the coalition announced it would use all options available to try to remove President Maduro, including a recall referendum and a constitutional amendment reducing the presidential term from six to four years.

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The opposition won a landslide victory in last December's elections but it has seen its authority hamstrung by the Supreme Court which it says supports the government.

As a result, the MUD has placed special emphasis on protests as a way to put force Mr Maduro's resignation.

Correspondents say this is a potentially explosive path after anti-government demonstrations in 2014 left 43 people dead. This led to the arrest of a number of opposition leaders on charges of murder and inciting violence.

Jesus Torrealba, secretary of Venezuela's coalition of opposition parties (MUD), speaks during a rally in Caracas, 12 March — Image captionThe opposition rally was addressed by MUD secretary Jesus Torrealba

President Maduro led his own rally in Caracas, ostensibly against US sanctions and what the government regards as interference in Venezuela's affairs.

"We have to reject President Obama's decree. It is stupid," said protester Raiza Sucre who had arrived in one of the official buses that had brought government supporters to the march.

The sanctions were first put in place a year ago after a government crack-down on opposition leaders.

The protests come against the backdrop of a deep economic crisis made worse by the crash in the price of oil which long funded the Chavez and Maduro government's spending on social welfare.

Venezuela holds the world's largest crude reserves but its economy contracted 5.7% last year. (crude: 형용사로 대강의, 명사로 원유)

저작자표시 비영리 변경금지 (새창열림)