Small groups of opposition supporters gathered yesterday Saturday in various cities Venezuelacalling for the president’s resignation Nicolas Maduro from power, two months after his controversial re-election.

The leader of the opposition Maria Corina Machadowho is in hiding after alleging electoral fraud, called on Venezuelans to organize neighborhood demonstrations to protest Maduro’s re-election to the presidency.

“Freedom is at risk in Venezuela,” said Colonel E.A. Hidalgo Valerowho attended one of these protest rallies. “Today, our people are afraid to go out on the streets, because there is massive repression,” he added. He explained that this new phase of opposition mobilizations, with neighborhood-by-neighborhood rallies, is intended to limit the risk of their “violent repression”, as happened with the massive protests that followed the July 28 election. During that time, 27 people were killed, 192 injured and about 2,400 arrested, according to official sources.

THE Nicolas Madurowhose election victory was upheld by the Supreme Court on August 22, was declared the winner with 52% of the vote by the National Electoral Council, which, however, did not release detailed results.

For its part, the opposition argued that its candidate Edmundo Gonzales Urutia secured over 60% of the vote. González Urrutia fled to Spain as he believed he was in danger of being arrested.