Tense scenes on the streets of Caracas on Wednesday (May 10) with scores of protesters angry at President Nicolas Maduro clashing with Venezuela's National Guard. <br /> <br />Decrying Venezuela's economic crisis and demanding elections, protesters faced off with heavily-armed riot police. In response, heavy vehicles were brought in to disperse the protesters with water cannon and tear gas used on the crowd. <br /> <br />The latest violence comes after the death of a motorcyclist who was shot in the head. Protesters blame the government's heavy-hand for the rising death toll, which currently stands at at least 39. <br /> <br />Maduro has blamed the country's opposition for stoking violence to remove him from power with the help of the U.S. <br /> <br />The protests come after Maduro announced the creation of a new super body called a "constituent assembly," with authority to rewrite the constitution and shake up public powers. Foes dismiss it as an attempt to keep the socialists in power by establishing a biased new assembly. <br /> <br />Rights group Penal Forum says 1,991 people have been detained since April 1, with 653 still behind bars. <br /> <br />Opposition leaders have complained the government is processing 250 detainees via military courts.
