Opposition leader rejects govt.’s call for dialogue

In Venezuela, opposition leader Henrique Capriles did not take part in a conference called by President Nicolas Maduro on Monday.
The talks were part of the president’s initiative for an agreement with the opposition in order to end violent protests after three weeks. Capriles was the only Governor absent in the event. Capriles claims that Maduro does not meet the opposition’s demands. Many say the opposition leader wasted an opportunity to have a peace dialogue with Maduro, as most venezuelans want the end of violent protests that have recently turned deadly. According to socialists, the opposition plans to overthrow the government in a coup. On Monday, anti-government demonstrators erected barricades, despite pleas by opposition leaders to rein in their protests. Opponents of Maduro claim that he’s responsible for the country’s high crime rate and spiraling inflation. They have been staging the latest protests since February 12.