Maduro Opponents Take to the Streets in Venezuela

Thousands protest nationwide

Thousands of opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took to the streets on Saturday to express outrage over the country's deepening economic crisis, seeking to rebuild momentum sapped after a string of electoral defeats.

The nationwide day of protests was the first called by opposition leader Henrique Capriles since he lost by a thin margin to Maduro in April's snap election following the death of Hugo Chavez and came just two weeks before key mayoral elections.

Reflecting a certain fatigue that besets both sides in this deeply polarized nation, only about 5,000 people gathered at Plaza Venezuela in Caracas to march with Capriles — a far cry from the masses that flooded Caracas's avenues during his final rally during the presidential campaign. Still, turnout was greater than recent government-organized acts.