CARACAS – Protests against Venezuela's leftist government turned violent again Wednesday, claiming four lives in the western city of Valencia. The victims include a member of the country's National Guard. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths was unclear, news reports said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed sharp shooters in two of the cases and announced a meeting of his security cabinet in light of the renewed violnce.

Since mid February 27 people have died across the country in anti-government protests. The dead include opposition activists, pro-government supporters and at least one police officer. In Caracas on Wednesday hundreds of students with close ties to the government took to the streets, while a protest march by people opposed to the government was prevented by police using tear gas.