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WORLD NEWS Monday 29 January 2018

Venezuela opposition rejoins talks as presidency vote looms

ocratic Unity alliance could run as the ruling socialist recognized party banner.
abandon the negotiations party candidate, pressing Although polls say Ven-
after one of its biggest for the vote to happen on ezuelans overwhelmingly
parties announced it was the earliest possible oppor- blame Maduro for wide-
boycotting the talks, which tunity. Typically elections spread food shortages
have been taking place in are held toward the end and quadruple-digit infla-
the Dominican Republic. of the year to avoid a long tion, Maduro heads into
"We are obligated to keep transition when the new six- the race the clear favorite
fighting in all arenas for year presidential term be- against an opposition di-
electoral guarantees," gins in January 2019. vided and rudderless fol-
Democratic Unity said in a Foreign governments were lowing the collapse of a
statement. quick to condemn the deadly protest movement
In agreeing to return to move, saying it undercuts last year seeking the presi-
the negotiating table on the negotiations that have dent's removal.
Monday, the opposition al- been taking place on and Several of its leaders have
liance said it would renew off since December. been barred from stand-
Venezuela's National Assembly President Julio Borges, right, its push for guarantees that Further stoking concerns ing for office, including
speaks with Mexican Ambassador Sylvia Sevilla, from left, British voting will be free and fair. that the vote will be rigged Henrique Capriles, who
Ambassador Nicolas Harrocks and Spanish Ambassador Jesus Those include allowing for- even before Venezuelans narrowly lost to Maduro in
Silva, in Caracas, Venezuela. Negotiators for Venezuela's op- eign election monitors, lift- head to the polls, the gov- special elections following
position say they will return to the negotiating table next week. ing an electoral ban on ernment-stacked Supreme the death of Hugo Chavez
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) several opposition leaders Court on Thursday night in 2013, and activist Leop-

By SCOTT SMITH The main opposition alli- and guaranteeing that mil- barred the coalition from oldo Lopez, who has been
Associated Press ance announced Saturday lions of Venezuelan exiles being on the ticket, mean- under house arrest since
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) that it would rejoin talks won't be disenfranchised. ing whichever candidate being released from jail last
— Negotiators for Venezue- even as it harshly criticized The pro-government na- runs against Maduro will year. Others have fled into
la's opposition say they will the government for tor- tional Constituent Assem- have to do so under a less- exile. q
return to the negotiating pedoing prospects for a bly surprised Venezuelans
table next week as interna- breakthrough by unilater- this week by calling for an
tional pressure mounts on ally setting a deadline for election to be held by the
President Nicolas Maduro's elections and banning it end of April.
government over its deci- from the ballot. While no date was set,
sion to push up presidential The decision ends days of Maduro immediately an-
elections. speculation that the Dem- nounced that he wants to
As fiery protests erupt:
Honduran president starts new term

By FREDDY CUEVAS duran family." dictatorship and without
Associated Press The inauguration came recognizing Hernandez as
TEGUCIGALPA, Hondu- after soldiers and riot po- president," Nasralla told The
ras (AP) — President Juan lice fired tear gas to block Associated Press.
Orlando Hernandez was thousands of demonstra- Hernandez, a 49-year-old
sworn in for a new term in tors from marching to the lawyer, is Honduras' first
the Honduran capital Sat- National Stadium to pro- president to be re-elected
urday, while across town test. Masked protesters — a key point in the pro-
tear gas drifted across flam- shot rocks from slingshots tests against him.
ing barricades in clashes and kicked canisters back The 1982 constitution bars
between police and pro- toward security forces as presidents from seeking a
testers angry over an elec- barricades burned and gas new term and conserva-
tion the say was marred by billowed on the streets. tive politicians deposed a
fraud. "This is how the dictator op- leftist president in 2009 for
The head of Congress put presses his people," said allegedly even considering
the blue-and-white sash of opposition presidential re-election. But Hernandez
office on Hernandez in the candidate Salvador Nas- won a Supreme Court ruling
morning ceremony in Tegu- ralla, who says the election in 2015 to get around that
cigalpa, and the president was stolen and he was the prohibition. Then election
promised in an address "to true winner of the vote. authorities all but stopped
begin a process of recon- "We remain in the struggle giving public updates on
ciliation to unite the Hon- to rescue the country from the count. q