Venezuelan government meets again with opposition, rejects proposed amnesty law

CARACAS, Venezuela, April 16 (UPI) -- Members of the Venezuelan government met with opposition leaders for the second time on Tuesday in an attempt to end months-long anti-government protests.

Tuesday's meeting followed an initial gathering on April 10, mediated by the Union of South American Nations. Some opposition leaders boycotted the government talks while members of the opposition remained in government detention.

Opposition leader Ramon Aveledo emerged from Tuesday's meeting and announced that the government had rejected his proposed amnesty law. With Popular Will party leader Leopoldo Lopez and the mayors of San Cristobal and San Diego still imprisoned, Aveledo said the opposition would "seek other ways" to free the "political prisoners."

Anti-government demonstrations began in Venezuela in February, demanding an end to goods shortages, inflation and high crime. Maduro's government has blamed foreign-backed "fascists" for the unrest while the opposition has claimed the security forces were to blame for the violence.

[BBC]