Venezuela's President says 50 killed in anti-govt. protests

PanARMENIAN.Net - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has said the number of deaths which can be connected to two weeks of anti-government protests has risen above 50, BBC News reports.

Official estimates put the number killed in clashes at 13.

Maduro has blamed the violence on fascist groups. He was speaking ahead of a meeting intended to put an end to the unrest, sparked by anger at high inflation, rampant crime and food shortages. But the main opposition coalition has refused to attend, calling it a farce.

"We will not lend ourselves to a sham dialogue that would end in a mockery of our compatriots," the bloc's vice-president, Jorge Arreaza, told reporters.

Speaking at a pro-government rally staged by farmers outside the presidential palace, Maduro said there were "more than 50 dead as a result of road blocks and barricades".

"An 84-year-old lady died in eastern Caracas because she was held up at a road block for three hours and died in her family's car of a heart attack," he said.

He did not further clarify his reasons for giving a steep increase in the death toll.

Elsewhere in Caracas, hundreds of people, mostly women, led by the wife of imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez protested against the government's handling of the demonstrations.

The "national peace conference" was called by President Maduro a few days ago, after another violent weekend.

The Roman Catholic Church and a major business federation had confirmed their presence.

The protests have continued, although their numbers seem to be declining.

The leader of the opposition, Henrique Capriles, dismissed the talks initiative as a "photo opportunity" for Maduro.

On Tuesday, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said he was "saddened by the violence" and called for the "protection of human rights" in Venezuela.

Pope Francis also said he hoped that "violence and hostility would cease as soon as possible". He called on the Venezuelan people "to promote reconciliation through mutual forgiveness and sincere dialogue".

But it soon spread to the capital and other parts of the country.