The Americas

Venezuela's unrest claims 21st victim as new protests loom

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Protesters in black carry white flowers during a silent protest in homage to the at least 20 people killed in unrest generated after the nation's Supreme Court stripped congress of its last powers, a decision it later reversed, outside the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, April 22, 2017. Saturday's protest is the latest mass gathering in a wave of tumult that has rocked the nation over the last three weeks as demonstrators continue to press for new elections. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

A woman wipes her face as she is overwhelmed with emotion during a silent protest in homage to the at least 20 people killed in unrest generated after the nation's Supreme Court stripped congress of its last powers, a decision it later reversed, as she marches to the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, April 22, 2017. Saturday's protest is the latest mass gathering in a wave of tumult that has rocked the nation over the last three weeks as demonstrators continue to press for new elections. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (The Associated Press)

A woman holds up a sign with a message that reads in Spanish: "Out Maduro" standing in the middle of a road during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, April 24, 2017. Weeks of anti-government unrest have claimed another victim as Venezuela's opposition prepares for another mass protest. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (The Associated Press)

Weeks of political unrest have claimed another victim as Venezuela's opposition prepares for another mass protest.

The Interior Ministry said Sunday that Almelina Carrillo died in a hospital after being struck on the head with a frozen water bottle thrown from a high rise during a pro-government rally last week. At least 21 people now have been killed since the unrest began almost a month ago over the Supreme Court's decision to gut the opposition-controlled congress of its powers.

News of the death comes as opponents of President Nicolas Maduro are set to flood highways across the nation Monday for a daylong sit-in.

Maduro on Sunday said he wouldn't give in to opponents and again urged them rejoin negotiations they broke off last December.