Venezuela's chief prosecutor has further distanced herself from the socialist administration, deepening the widest rift in a government that has otherwise presented a united front against six weeks of protests.
Public Prosecutor Luisa Ortega yesterday said a 20-year- old protester had been killed by a tear gas canister fired by state security forces, giving a version of events that contradicted others in the administration who have strenuously denied state forces were involved.
Those officials said the protester was killed either by fellow demonstrators or criminals trying to make the government look bad.
Protests against President Nicolas Maduro's government continued yesterday, and there were more clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Ortega said 55 people have been killed and about 1,000 injured in the unrest that has been seen almost daily since late March. She said about half of the deaths were caused by riot police and soldiers.
State-run television usually carries the speeches of government officials, but did not broadcast the one by Ortega.
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