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42 wounded in Venezuela riot

Street vendors clash with police over stall locations


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A police officer fires rubber bullets during a clash with street vendors Wednesday in Caracas, Venezuela.
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CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) -- Venezuelan police firing tear gas and shotgun pellets clashed with rioting street vendors in Caracas on Wednesday and 14 people were treated for gunshot wounds, officials and witnesses said.

"The vendors started to attack the police ... We have 42 people treated for injuries, 14 of them from firearms," William Martinez, deputy commander of the Caracas Metropolitan Fire Service, told Reuters.

The street violence, the worst seen in Caracas for several months, erupted after police tried to dismantle the vendors' stalls following an order from the Interior Ministry to clear areas around banks and subway stations.

Several hundred rioters burned two buses and two police motorcycles, set fire to garbage and pelted police with stones and sticks in running battles with armed officers.

Witnesses heard gunshots but could not say who started the shooting. At least one department store was looted.

As black smoke rose from the burning vehicles, some of the rioters also shot fireworks at the police.

National Guard troops in riot gear later restored order to the debris-strewn streets.

Some of the the vendors, part of an army of thousands of street sellers who clog the pavements of central Caracas, accused police officers of stealing their wares.

Over the last three years, Caracas has witnessed numerous violent clashes during rival demonstrations and marches by supporters and opponents of left-wing President Hugo Chavez.



Copyright 2004 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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