Hugo Chavez Death

The UN Security Council will discuss the crisis in Venezuela today as the opposition took to the streets in anger at what they saw as moves to strengthen elected socialist President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power.

Venezuela's socialist party is holding its first national convention since the death last year of President Hugo Chavez, with delegates hoping to quell infighting and discontent about party leadership.

Venezuela's state prosecutor said on Thursday the death toll from a month of violent protests had risen to 28, after the nation's top court ordered opposition mayors to dismantle barricades set up by street protesters.

Students and opponents of the Venezuelan government have called a new rally for Wednesday to mark a month of protests in Caracas, as the death toll from demo-related violence reached 21.

Venezuelans erected barricades in major cities on Monday in some of the worst demonstrations against the government since the protests began almost three weeks ago, with the death toll now 14.

Some of the notable figures who have passed away in the year just ending.

Months after the Venezuelan leader's death, Barrio TV depicts him high up in the clouds with the likes of independence hero Simon Bolivar and leftist revolutionary Che Guevara -- when Uncle Sam unexpectedly pops up.

Venezuelan acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday a centuries-old curse would fall on the heads of those who do not vote for him in next week's election to pick a successor to late leader Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela's acting president urged US President Barack Obama to stop what he called a plot by the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency to kill his opposition rival and trigger a coup ahead of an April 14 election.

Late president Hugo Chavez was laid to rest at the headquarters of his failed 1992 coup attempt on Friday, a month before snap elections to pick his successor.

Retired leader Fidel Castro broke nearly a week of silence since the death of friend and ally Hugo Chavez, saying on Monday that Cuba has lost its "best friend" with the late Venezuelan president's passing.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez slid into a coma the day before he died of respiratory failure after cancer spread into his lungs, sources say.

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles announced on Sunday night that he will run in elections to replace Hugo Chavez, launching what many consider a doomed candidacy with a no-holds-barred attack against a government he said had coldly betrayed Venezuelans' trust.

Venezuela called on Saturday a snap election to succeed Hugo Chavez on April 14, setting the stage for a tough campaign between the late leader's political heir and the opposition in this divided oil-rich nation.

Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday as Venezuela's acting president, using the occasion to launch blistering attacks on the US as well as the political opposition, which objected that the ceremony violated the country's constitution.

The UN Security Council will discuss the crisis in Venezuela today as the opposition took to the streets in anger at what they saw as moves to strengthen elected socialist President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power.

Venezuela's socialist party is holding its first national convention since the death last year of President Hugo Chavez, with delegates hoping to quell infighting and discontent about party leadership.

Venezuela's state prosecutor said on Thursday the death toll from a month of violent protests had risen to 28, after the nation's top court ordered opposition mayors to dismantle barricades set up by street protesters.

Students and opponents of the Venezuelan government have called a new rally for Wednesday to mark a month of protests in Caracas, as the death toll from demo-related violence reached 21.

Venezuelans erected barricades in major cities on Monday in some of the worst demonstrations against the government since the protests began almost three weeks ago, with the death toll now 14.

Some of the notable figures who have passed away in the year just ending.

Months after the Venezuelan leader's death, Barrio TV depicts him high up in the clouds with the likes of independence hero Simon Bolivar and leftist revolutionary Che Guevara -- when Uncle Sam unexpectedly pops up.

Venezuelan acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday a centuries-old curse would fall on the heads of those who do not vote for him in next week's election to pick a successor to late leader Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela's acting president urged US President Barack Obama to stop what he called a plot by the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency to kill his opposition rival and trigger a coup ahead of an April 14 election.

Late president Hugo Chavez was laid to rest at the headquarters of his failed 1992 coup attempt on Friday, a month before snap elections to pick his successor.

Retired leader Fidel Castro broke nearly a week of silence since the death of friend and ally Hugo Chavez, saying on Monday that Cuba has lost its "best friend" with the late Venezuelan president's passing.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez slid into a coma the day before he died of respiratory failure after cancer spread into his lungs, sources say.

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles announced on Sunday night that he will run in elections to replace Hugo Chavez, launching what many consider a doomed candidacy with a no-holds-barred attack against a government he said had coldly betrayed Venezuelans' trust.

Venezuela called on Saturday a snap election to succeed Hugo Chavez on April 14, setting the stage for a tough campaign between the late leader's political heir and the opposition in this divided oil-rich nation.

Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday as Venezuela's acting president, using the occasion to launch blistering attacks on the US as well as the political opposition, which objected that the ceremony violated the country's constitution.