Toll in Venezuela s violent protests reaches 62

Caracas June 3 (IANS) The death toll in the violent Venezuelan protests has increased to 62 amid escalating tensions provoked by the government s call to rewrite the Constitution.

The latest victim of the violence that started in April is a woman killed at a protest in Lara state the Public Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry has commissioned the Lara state prosecutor to investigate the death of Maria Rodriguez who was shot during a demonstration on Thursday in Iribarren town Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

Some 1 187 people have been injured in the protests since Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro launched an initiative to elect a Constituent Assembly to reform the Constitution.

It has been badly received by the opposition which claimed it was another attempt by the executive to hold onto power.

--IANS
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