Seven Killed, Over 60 Injured in Venezuela Protests - Report

Source :  RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, April 17 (RIA Novosti) - Seven people were killed and 61 injured in protests that sparked up across Venezuela following the presidential election over the weekend, FoxNews.com reported citing the country’s chief prosecutor.

Prosecutor Luisa Ortega did not give the details on the causes of deaths, but said that the killed belonged to the working class.

Nicolas Maduro, the handpicked successor of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, was declared winner of Sunday’s elections early on Tuesday Moscow time.

According to the Associated Press, Maduro accused the United States of financing and organizing protests in Venezuela following the election.

According to the latest official information, Maduro won by a tiny margin, gaining over 50 percent of the vote, while his election rival Henrique Capriles received almost 49 percent.

Capriles refused to accept the results, saying the polls were plagued by numerous voting irregularities, and called for his supporters to rally in peaceful protest.

Topless Femen Activists Detained at Vatican Gay Protest

Source :  RIA Novosti

ROME, January 13 (RIA Novosti) – Four activists of Ukrainian feminist group Femen staged a topless protest for gay rights at the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Benedict XVI was reciting his prayer, local media said.

The activists with slogans "In Gay We Trust" painted on their backs, staged the protest by the Christmas tree in the center of St. Peter's Square.

The women were briefly detained by Vatican police, Agi news agency said.

Ukraine's radical feminist movement Femen was established in 2008 and devoted mainly to protests on women’s issues. Later the group made headlines for pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests in Russia, Ukraine and London.