News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Venezuela-death-main_article_image.jpg
PA Wire
World News

Woman killed outside Church queuing to vote in Venezuela

by Eno Adeogun

Xiomara Escot, 61, was killed when a pro-government armed group opened fire at the El Carmen Church polling station in Catia, an impoverished neighbourhood in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.

More than seven million voters took part in the opposition-organised referendum on Sunday, according to academics monitoring the poll.

PA Wire

Voters strongly opposed President Nicolas Maduro's plan for a new constituent assembly with the power to scrap the National Assembly and rewrite the constitution.

The chief prosecutor's office confirmed Escot - who was a nurse - had been killed and four others wounded in the incident.

Video posted to social media showed huge crowds outside the church before running in panic as men on motorbikes zoomed past and shots rang out.

Mr Maduro made no mention of the incident in comments on state television shortly after the official close of opposition polls but called for an end to violence that he blamed on the opposition.

He said: "I'm calling on the opposition to return to peace, to respect for the constitution, to sit and talk.

"Let's start a new round of talks, of dialogue for peace."

The opposition however has blamed a "paramilitary" gang for the shooting, which prosecutors said they would investigate.

PA Wire

Across Venezuela, voters overwhelmingly backed proposals to halt Mr Maduro's plans.

Voting on three questions, 98 per cent rejected the new assembly proposed by President Maduro and backed a call for elections before 2019.

They also voted for the armed forces to defend the current constitution.

The rector of the Central University of Venezuela, Cecilia García Arocha, said 6,492,381 people voted inside Venezuela and another 693,789 at polling stations abroad. However the vote, dismissed by Mr Maduro as illegal, was largely boycotted by government supporters.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate