Opposition supporters take part in a rally demanding a referendum to remove Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in San Cristobal, Venezuela November 3, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
DW: Pope's envoy: Collapse of Venezuela talks could lead to 'bloodshed'
The pope's envoy has warned of bloodshed in Venezuela if upcoming Vatican-backed talks between the government and opposition fail. The oil-dependent country is sliding deeper into a political and economic crisis.
Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli (above left) told Argentine newspaper "La Nacion" that the situation in Venezuela was "very ugly" and could lead to an outbreak in violence.
"If one delegation or the other wants to end the dialogue, it's not the pope but the Venezuelan people who will lose, because the path ahead then could truly be one of blood," Celli said after visiting the Venezuelan capital Caracas for Vatican-convened talks.
"And there are people who would not be afraid of bloodshed. That is what worries me."
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Update #1: Failure in Venezuela talks could lead to 'bloodshed': Vatican envoy (AFP)
Update #2: Pope's envoy warns of bloodshed if Venezuela talks fail: paper (Reuters)
WNU Editor: I am sceptical that Venezuelan President Maduro will accept any of the opposition demands .... and I doubt very much that the opposition will listen to President Maduro's demand for patience. With food shortages being the norm, coupled with sky-high inflation, unemployment, and the breakdown of all basic social services ..... revolution will be in the air by springtime (if not sooner).
Update #3: Venezuela’s currency is dying (Matt O'Brien, Washington Post).