Thousands of people demonstrated across Venezuela on Monday as the country faced a political standstill after both incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and the country’s main opposition coalition claimed victory in the nation’s presidential election.
It followed an election that was among the most peaceful in recent memory, reflecting hopes that Venezuela could avoid bloodshed and end 25 years of single-party rule.
In the capital, Caracas, the protests were mostly peaceful, but when dozens of riot gear-clad national police officers blocked the caravan, a brawl broke out.
Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom threw stones and other objects at officers who had stationed themselves on a main avenue of an upper-class district.
