Maduro, foes head into crucial showdown
Many Venezuelan streets were deserted and barricaded yesterday for a strike called by foes of President Nicolas Maduro to demand a presidential election and the abandonment of a plan for a new congress they fear would institute a dictatorship.
Many businesses were staying shut as the opposition organized a 24-hour national shutdown from 6 am in a civil disobedience campaign they are dubbing "zero hour" to try to end nearly two decades of Socialist Party rule
"There's no movement. Everything is closed. We must all do our best to get rid of this tyrant," said Miguel Lopez, 17, holding a homemade shield emblazoned with "No To Dictatorship!" as he manned a roadblock on a Caracas street devoid of traffic.
Many private transport groups heeded the strike call, while students, neighbors and activists hauled rubbish and furniture into streets to form barriers. Many families were keeping children behind doors in case of trouble.
Four months of anti-government unrest have killed about 100 people, injured thousands and left hundreds in jail.
Leaders of Venezuela's 2.8 million public employees said state businesses and ministries would remain open, and there was a trickle of workers on the street.
"I'm on strike 'in my heart' because if we don't turn up, they will fire us," said a 51-year-old engineer at state steel plant Sidor in southern Bolivar state.
No disruptions were expected at oil company PDVSA which brings in 95 percent of Venezuela's export revenue. Some people grumbled that the opposition action would cost them money and prevent them seeking food at a time of extreme economic crisis in the OPEC nation.
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