A candidate in the controversial Venezuelan assembly election and an opposition activist were killed over the weekend in the hours before polls opened at 6 a.m. Sunday, BBC News reported.
Jose Felix Pineda, a pro-government candidate running for the constituent assembly, was shot to death by assailants who broke into his home late Saturday, while Ricardo Campos, a youth secretary with the opposition Acción Democrática, was killed during a protest.
At least 10 people had been killed across the country over the last 24 hours, said El Nacional newspaper.
Votes were held Sunday to elect a 545-member constituent assembly that has the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro created the assembly after months of violent protests and has said it will bring peace to the sharply divided country, but the opposition party says it’s a power grab and is boycotting the vote.
Anti-government protests have been happening almost daily in Venezuela, where an economic crisis has led to daily food shortages and soaring inflation, and more than 100 people have died as a result.
In March, the Supreme Court decided it would take over the National Assembly, which is controlled by the opposition party, fueling the protests.
"Even if they win today, this won't last long," opposition supporter Berta Hernandez, a 60-year-old doctor, told Reuters in Caracas. "I'll continue on the streets because, not long from now, this will come to an end."
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