Venezuela anti-Maduro protests: Policeman shot dead Published duration 27 October 2016

image copyright EPA image caption Protesters are opposed to the president and his government's handling of economic and political crises

One policeman has been shot dead and dozens of people injured during anti-government protests in Venezuela.

At least 20 people have been injured and 80 detained nationwide, a local rights group has said.

Images circulated on social media of injured people on the ground. There are reports at least three were shot.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government.

In Miranda state, a police officer died and two others were injured, the government said, blaming opposition activists.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles is the governor of the state. Police there confirmed the death but did not blame protesters.

The mass demonstrations came after a recall referendum process - an attempt to remove Mr Maduro from power- was suspended.

Opposition activists had gathered about 1.8 million signatures petitioning for a recall referendum, 400,000 of which were validated by electoral authorities.

But the process was halted last week after officials said the signature collection process has been marred by fraud.

Protesters clashed with security forces across the country, particularly in the western cities of San Cristobal and Maracaibo.

"The referendum was our constitutional right, and they have denied it. What are they scared of?" said Grimaldi Lopez at the rally in the capital, Caracas.

Using the hashtag #TomadeVenezuela or "Venezuela takeover", people shared images of injured and bloodied protesters.

Mr Maduro addressed a rival rally of supporters in Caracas, saying: "Let the people decide."

Opposition leaders have called for a mass walk-out on Friday. After the general strike, if the government continues to block the recall referendum process, the opposition threatened to march on the presidential palace - something it has not been allowed to do since a march there in 2002 started a short-lived coup against the former President, Hugo Chavez.

Mr Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, is blamed by the opposition for Venezuela's dire economic situation. The oil-rich country is facing widespread food shortages and spiralling inflation.

In turn, he has accused the opposition of having links to foreign states, the US in particular, and of seeking to overthrow him to "lay their hands on Venezuela's oil riches".

image copyright AP image caption Opposition protesters rally every week but organisers believed Wednesday's protest would be one of the biggest yet

Under Venezuela's constitution, a recall referendum can be held once a president has served half of his term in office and the requisite steps are met.

So far, the opposition has completed the first step of the process.