UN: Venezuela using excessive force

The United Nations has criticised Venezuela's "widespread and systematic use of excessive force and arbitrary detentions" against protesters, amid worsening tensions and fresh moves against the opposition.

The UN's human rights office based in Switzerland on Tuesday highlighted witness accounts of police and soldiers using "disproportionate force to instil fear, crush dissent, and to prevent demonstrators from assembling, rallying and reaching public institutions to present petitions".

The team's analysis found security forces were allegedly responsible for at least 46 deaths, and pro-government armed groups were allegedly responsible for 27 among 124 deaths being investigated in connection with demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro's government.

The protests have stemmed from anger over the installation of an all-powerful Constituent Assembly that they see as a power grab by Maduro. 
 

UCJ, UNILORIN.