The socialist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has begun exploratory talks with the opposition to resolve weeks of street unrest.<br /><br />The meeting was proposed by foreign ministers of the country’s South American neighbours and members of regional bloc UNASUR. A representative of the Vatican will also attend.<br /><br />A coalition of Venezuelan opposition parties agreed to the preliminary talks which its hoped will lead to the start of a peace process.<br /><br />Two months of unrest against Venezuela’s high crime rate, its growing inflation and shortages of certain food staples have left 39 people dead. <br /><br />The opposition movement has now increased its demands with calls for the government of President Maduro to resign.
