Venezuela probes security forces for torture

Venezuelan authorities say they are investigating claims of torture by security forces against anti-government protesters after a top military official admitted the use of excessive force.

On Sunday, the country’s chief of the Military Strategic Command, Vladimir Padrino, confessed that security forces had used excessive force during demonstrations in recent days.

Padrino added that 97 members of the armed forces and police staff are being probed for alleged torture and ill-treatment of protesters.

The top military official stressed that the number of forces being investigated was less than one percent of the 92,000 military and police forces “who are facing pressure and violence (defending) the government from an ongoing coup d’état attempt.”

Venezuela has been the scene of violent anti-government demonstrations since mid-February.

President Nicolas Maduro says the street clashes have inflicted some ten billion dollars in damage on the Venezuela economy.

Maduro accuses opposition groups of being part of a US-backed conspiracy to topple his administration.

The opposition, however, blames the Maduro administration for rampant crime, soaring inflation and shortage of essential goods.