Venezuela: Soldiers sent to quell looting amid protests

A number of shops and supermarkets have been looted in the Tachira state

Venezuela says it is sending 2,600 troops to the western region of Tachira to quell looting and rioting amid continuing anti-government protests.

In the state capital, San Cristobal, most shops and businesses are closed and guarded by soldiers.
Three people, including two teenagers, were killed in Tachira this week.

Opposition activists in staged another protest rally in the capital Caracas

Since the rallies for early elections and an end to the economic crisis began in early April, 43 people have died across the country.

President Nicolas Maduro has accused the opposition of inciting violence by calling people on to the streets.

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Speaking on state television on Wednesday, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said: "I have ordered the transfer of 2,000 guards and 600 special operations troops."

The minister said the deployment in Tachira was part of "Plan Zamora" designed to pacify the situation. He provided no further details.

Meanwhile, looting continued in parts of San Cristobal, reports say. People made off with items including coffee, nappies and cooking oil, local residents were quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

A 15-year-old boy died in hospital, a day after he was shot during the spate of looting in San Cristobal. He was named as Jose Francisco Guerrero.

"My mom sent my brother yesterday [Tuesday] to buy flour for dinner and a little while later we received a call saying he'd been injured by a bullet," his sister Maria Contreras told Reuters.

The authorities earlier announced the deaths of Luis Alviarez, 17, and Diego Hérnandez, 33, who were fatally injured on Monday.