749 detained in Venezuela protests
Protests organized by opposition supporters across the South American country of Venezuela continue, alleging that the election results are fraudulent following Nicolas Maduro's re-election as president in Sunday's vote.
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Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated that 749 people have been detained so far in the ongoing protests, adding that this number could rise. Saab noted that most of those detained will be charged with "resisting authority and terrorism."
TWO PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
Six people lost their lives and 84 were injured in the incidents. A large number of protesters were detained during the events.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino stated in his remarks that he has the "absolute loyalty and unconditional support" of the armed forces amidst the protests over Maduro's re-election last weekend, declaring that Maduro is the "legitimately re-elected commander-in-chief."
WHAT HAPPENED?
The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela announced that 98 percent of the votes had been counted and that Maduro had won the election, noting that Maduro received 51.2 percent of the vote while the opposition coalition Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD) candidate Edmundo Gonzalez received 44.2 percent. Exit polls, however, had indicated that Maduro lost the election and that Gonzalez was the winner.