Millions
of Venezuelans have joined a general strike called by the opposition as
pressure mounts on President Nicolás Maduro to cancel elections for a new
constituent assembly.
Clashes
between police and protesters killed at least three people. More than 300 others
were reportedly arrested.
Mr
Maduro said the strike was minimal and that its leaders would be arrested.
Since
April, when opposition protests intensified, almost 100 people have died across
the country.
Protesters
barricaded roads in the capital, Caracas, and other cities with rubbish and
furniture. The opposition said that 85% of the country joined the strike.
But in
pro-government areas of the capital, life went on as usual, with shops open and
streets busy. Public employees also appeared to have worked normally.
In several
cities, police fired tear gas as they clashed with protesters. One death was
reported on the outskirts of Caracas while two others died in the northern city
of Valencia.
More than 360
people had been arrested across the country, a
local rights group said.
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