Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused opposition protesters of setting a pro-government supporter on fire on the fiftieth day of the wave of protests, that has gripped the country. Footage of the man being set alight was broadcasted on state TV and the man, identified as Orlando Figuera, 21, has been treated in hospital for severe burns and several stab wounds. About forty six individuals are believed to have been wounded during the protest Witnesses to the incident said the crowd accused the person of being a thief. As stated by reports, about a hundred people, who were taking part in anti-Maduro protests in Caracas, surrounded Mr Figuera, doused him in fuel and set him alight in Plaza Altamira in the east of the country’s capital. Images from the scene showed him running near naked with flames from his back. "A person was set on fire, beaten up, stabbed... They nearly lynched him, just because he shouted out that he was a 'Chavista'," Mr Maduro said, referring to the ruling socialist movement established by his predecessor Hugo Chavez. On the same day, a young opposition activists died from a gunshot wound to his chest, raising the number of individuals killed to forty eight, as well as supporters of both sides, some bystanders and members of the security force, officers stated. The attorney general’s office said the gunmen opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in the western city of Valera Saturday and shot dead 23-year-old Edy Alejandro Teran Aguilar. Two other protesters were also wounded in the shooting. Mass demonstrations against President Maduro have taken place across Venezuela for seven weeks with protesters demanding early elections in what has become progressively violent demonstrations. In some cities, the protests degenerated into clashes between protesters and government troops and police. Saturday marked the fiftieth day of unrest in the country and protesters with white shirts, homemade gas masks and flags draped around their shoulders closed up a main road bringing central Caracas to near standstill. Speaking on his weekly TV programme, President Maduro described the incident of the pro-government supporter being set alight as “a hate crime and a crime against humanity”. The 54-year-old president claimed protesters are seeking a violent coup against him with the support of the United States. He accused President Donald Trump of being involved in a “conspiracy” to “take political control of Venezuela”. "Venezuela is facing ... a coup movement that has become hatred and intolerance, very similar to Nazi fascism," he stated. LOCURA CRECIENTE • Prenden volcano a un ser humano en "manifestación pacífica" de oposición en
caracas Venezuela. Fascismo inoculado. pic.twitter.com/gG3DHGgmtD — Ernesto Villegas P. (@VillegasPoljak) May twenty, 2017 Reacting on Twitter, Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas wrote: "Growing insanity. a human being is set on fire at a 'peaceful demonstration' by the opposition in Caracas.” Opposition to Mr Maduro accuse the Venezuelan President of having become a dictator, wrecking the economy and causing desperation by opposing an electoral exit to the political crisis. they say Mr Maduro has instead unleashed repression and torture against protesters. The Venezuelan authorities have blocked a referendum last year, delayed state elections and are resisting calls to bring forward ensuing presidential election scheduled for late 2019. Seven in ten Venezuelans reject Mr Maduro’s leadership, based on private surveys. The country’s economy has collapsed, partly because of the drop of the value of oil, its main revenue, and crime is rampant. The opposition has accused members of presidency of profiting from corruption and enriching themselves whereas Venezuelans suffer an incapacitating recession and face a shortage of basic things including food and drugs. They say Mr Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez ruined the economy since returning to power in 1999.
