Venezuela's Maduro calls for peace violent protests persist

Hundreds of anti-government protesters blocked traffic on a major highway in Caracas on Friday (February 14) even as President Nicolas Maduro was saying that the government would not allow for protesters to block roads.

Federal police fired tear gas and water cannons at protests which Maduro's government has accused of being infiltrated by violent provocateurs.

Demonstrators have spilled onto the streets, blocking roads and burning tires in some cases, to denounce the repression of protests and make a litany of complaints against Maduro ranging from rampant crime to shortages of basic products.

protesters reject government accusations that their movement is violent.