Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro softens stance on elections

Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro march in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo / AP

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro says he wants to resume with the opposition as the country looked set for another day of protests today.

He also said he wanted local elections to take place, although he did mention presidential elections.

Protesters who have filled streets in cities across Venezuela for the past three weeks have demanded that Maduro hold delayed elections and address a growing economic crisis.

The protests have turned violent and 20 people have been killed.

Maduro appeared on television yesterday saying endorsed the idea of elections for mayors and state governors but did not mention a vote at presidential level.

"Elections, yes, I want elections now," he said "That is what I say as the head of state, and as the head of government." Thousands of people dressed in white shirts marched to the headquarters of the country's Catholic archdiocese in Caracas on Sunday to honour those killed in the protests.

Anger over the Opec nation's triple-digit inflation and Soviet-style product shortages boiled over after the Supreme Court last month briefly assumed the powers of Congress, triggering accusations that Maduro was building a dictatorship.

The court reversed course after international condemnation, but Maduro's Government further fuelled the protests by barring the opposition's most popular politician, Henrique Capriles, from holding office for 15 years.

Ruling Socialist Party officials say the demonstrations, in which protesters throw rocks at police and block streets with burning debris, are violent disruptions of public order meant to overthrow the government.

The next presidential elections are scheduled for late next year.

- Reuters