‘Extraordinary measures’ aimed at putting an end to ongoing protests in Venezuela - due to be announced by President Nicolás Maduro this evening - must not violate human rights, Amnesty International said today.

A month of huge demonstrations - both for and against the government - has left 25 people dead. A student, police officer and a third man died yesterday in separate incidents in Valencia, the country’s third-largest city, 170km west of Caracas.

Guadalupe Marengo, Deputy Director of Amnesty’s Americas Programme, said:

“We urge President Maduro to uphold the rule of law and ensure that any extraordinary measures he adopts respect the human rights of all in Venezuela, without discrimination.

“In such a polarised political context the bloodshed will only continue unless the government and its supporters, as well as the various political opposition groups, commit to fully respecting human rights.”