Venezuelan National Guard smashes into night-time demonstrations

On Wednesday night, the work of the National Guard was synchronized with the police crackdown on demonstrations across the capital city of Venezuela. Meanwhile, President Nicolás Maduro addressed himself to the nation in an obligatory simultaneous broadcast. Pellets were shot and tear gas was hurled during the clashes; pot banging went out from windows; tires and rubbish were burned; access to roads was blocked. The city went under voluntary curfew. Restaurants, malls and stores closed their doors early in the afternoon. Public transportation stopped working in some areas. Streets were deserted. In the areas of clashes, demonstrators complained about abuse of authority by the police