(Vatican Radio) One of Venezuela's main opposition leaders is defying the Government
to try and arrest him when he leads a huge march in the heart of the Capitol, Caracas
on Tuesday.
Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez vehemently denies committing
any crime apart from steadfastly opposing the administration of President Nicolas
Maduro. Police are searching for him, after a court issued an arrest warrant and searched
two family homes to find nothing, because he's gone into hiding.
President
Maduro says a coup is being hatched against him and is calling for peace and a reduction
in tensions.
Leopoldo Lopez says he'll be leading a symbolic march on Tuesday
from Caracas' Venezuela Square, to the Ministry of Justice Building. He's asking his
supporters to dress in white to show their ongoing commitment to peace.
He's
also accusing the Government of the deaths of three people in previous protests.
The
US State Department is stressing deep concern for the deteriorating situation in oil
rich Venezuela, which is battling problems of hyperinflation, law and order, crumbling
infrastructure, and unemployment.