Venezuela’s socialist government and opposition are to hold talks this coming Sunday.<br /><br /> A drive to hold a referendum to remove the unpopular President Nicolas Maduro was recently suspended.<br /><br /> There have been protests and a worsening political stand-off since then.<br /><br /> Many of the country’s 30 million people fear the situation will create more unrest in the nation.<br /><br /> It is already exhausted by political confrontation, a plunging economy and rampant crime.<br /><br /> Venezuela, opposition announce dialogue as protests brew https://t.co/nbVMrqMFYo pic.twitter.com/6PIeQk0rkc— Reuters Venezuela (@ReutersVzla) October 24, 2016<br /><br /> Images of the heavy toll of medicine and food shortages on the lives of Venezuelans MeridithKohut #VZLAcrisis https://t.co/YRQVFMTY5B pic.twitter.com/N9ZcowFU89— HRW Venezuela (HRW_Venezuela) October 24, 2016<br /><br /> The details<br /><br /> The government, opposition and the Vatican’s envoy to Venezuela say the two sides will meet on Margarita Island for talks.<br /><br /> There is no indication Maduro will participate in Sunday’s talks.<br /><br /> What are the chances of success?<br /><br /> Slim, experts say.<br /><br /> Past conversations between the bitterly polarised sides have led to little progress.<br /><br /> The opposition says Maduro is inept and must leave office before the crisis worsens.<br /><br /> However, he has vowed not to be pushed out by what he describes as a power-hungry elite seeking a coup.<br /><br /> The backstory<br /><br /> Opponents say 53-year-old Maduro has veered openly into dictatorship.<br /><br /> They claim he has sidelined the opposition-led congress, jailed opponents and leaned on compliant judicial and electoral authorities to stop the referendum.<br /><br /> Turning up the pressure, the opposition-led National Assembly this weekend began proceedings to put Maduro on trial for violating democracy.<br /><br /> Venezuelan government accused of staging coup https://t.co/UL3cLCYy5s— The Independent (@Independent) October 24, 2016<br /><br /> “We want freedom!”<br /><br /> Several hundred students have burned rubbish and set up roadblocks in the volatile border city of San Cristobal.<br /><br /> The city is a hotbed of anti-Maduro sentiment. <br /><br /> It was the site of the worst violence during protests two years ago that led to 43 deaths around the nation.<br /><br /> There were other scattered protests around Venezuela, including in the capital, Caracas.<br /><br /> The protesters chanted, “We want freedom!”<br /><br /> Mainstream opposition leaders are concentrating their efforts on Wednesday this week.<br /><br /> Venezuela’s opposition plans mass protests after government blocks recall referendum https://t.co/n2sKFUH6ZW pic.twitter.com/rbGjFjJuu5— dwnews (@dwnews) October 22, 2016<br /><br /> Wednesday’s protests<br /><br /> The opposition has called for nationwide protests on Wednesday.<br /><br /> The day of rallies has been dubbed “The Takeover of Venezuela”.<br /><br /> The Vatican connection<br /><br /> Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, travelled to the Vatican on Monday.<br /><br /> He met with Pope Francis, who urged him to alleviate people’s suffering to solve the crisis.<br /><br /> The Vatican agreed in September to accompany a dialo
