Venezuelan protests rage as jailed Lopez supporters stage vigil
Caracas — Supporters of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez held a vigil outside his prison demanding to see him on Thursday after rumours about his health rattled the protest-hit country where the death toll from anti-government unrest rose to 36. More than 1,700 people have been arrested, with 597 of them still jailed, since the unrest began in early April, according to rights group Penal Forum. At least 36 have been killed and hundreds injured, often in confusing street melees between stone-throwing youths and security forces firing tear gas and water cannons. Groups of students took to the streets on Thursday. President Nicolas Maduro’s leftist government later issued a short "proof of life" video in which Lopez said he was fine.
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