The Americas

Venezuela police repel rare protest near presidential palace

Associated Press
Published | Updated

People take cover from tear gas fired by Bolivarian National Police during a protest demanding food, a few blocks from Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 2, 2016. Venezuela is seeing rising frustration with widespread food shortages and triple-digit inflation. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

A man throws tear gas back at Bolivarian National Police as clashes break out during a protest demanding food, a few blocks from Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 2, 2016. Venezuela is seeing rising frustration with widespread food shortages and triple-digit inflation. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

A demonstrator yells during a protest demanding food near Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 2, 2016. Venezuela is seeing rising frustration with widespread food shortages and triple-digit inflation. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

Venezuelan police have repelled a group of protesters who made a run for the presidential palace in Caracas.

More than 100 people charged down the main thoroughfare in downtown Caracas Thursday chanting slogans critical of the ruling socialist party.

The county has seen a growing number of spontaneous protests in recent weeks as the economy tumbles. The opposition has staged several large rallies against the administration of President Nicolas Maduro. But all have been blocked from reaching the downtown area where government offices and the presidential palace are located.

Long lines of police in riot gear ran toward the march and turned them back with tear gas as people leaned out windows to cheer the protesters on.