"Pot-banging" protest called by Capriles sparks uproar
The candidate defeated by Nicolás Maduro in the Venezuelan presidential elections called on his voters to mobilize and go "to every office, every regional electoral board in the country, in every state," and formally request a recount of the votes from each ballot box; Venezuelan opposition protesters clashed with police in several locations in Caracas.
247 with Reuters Venezuelan opposition protesters clashed with police in several parts of Caracas on Monday, protesting what they call "fraud" in Sunday's presidential elections, in confrontations involving tear gas, stones and pieces of wood.
Hundreds of opposition protesters blocked the capital's main thoroughfare, while a contingent of security forces with shields tried to disperse them, Reuters witnesses at the scene said.
Defeated candidate by Nicolás Maduro, Henrique Capriles had called for a "panelaço" (banging of pots and pans) in protest against the proclamation of the Chavista candidate, which was announced by the CNE (National Electoral Council) on the afternoon of this Monday (15).
The protest was called during a press conference held by the opposition candidate. During his speech, Capriles said that the CNE (National Electoral Council) proclaimed "an illegitimate person" as president of the country because it did not recount the votes before taking this action.
Furthermore, Capriles asked his voters to mobilize this Tuesday (16) to go "to every office, every regional electoral board in the country, in every state", and formally request that the votes from each ballot box be recounted.