About 200 Calgarians rally against Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro

About 200 Calgarians rallied outside city hall on Thursday to add their voices to the growing dissent against the government in their home country of Venezuela.

"Among widespread shortages of food and medicines ...the crime rates were responsible for more than 25,000 deaths only during 2015," said organizerJosue Ramirez in a statement before the noon rally.

Protesters want to pressure the government to hold a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro's rule, and todecry the deep economic crisis facing the country.

• Protesters against Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro take to streets of Caracas

"Together [with] the highest inflation in the world, therewere massive closures and exodus of businesses and productive farms due to expropriations or [misguided]economic policies and rampant misuse of public funds," said Ramirez.

Meanwhile in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters flooded the streets, in what wasprobably the biggest mass demonstration against the ruling socialists in more than a decade.

In power since Hugo Chavez's presidency from 1999, Maduro's party has hit a low ebb as falling oil prices and afailing state-led economy have left the OPEC nation in turmoil.

Triple-digit inflation, a third year of recession, shortagesof basics, and long lines at shops have exasperated many ofVenezuela's 30 million people.

The frustration led to aresounding opposition win in a December legislative vote.

But not everyone wants Madurogone.

Also on Thursday,pro-government supporters held rival rallies in the capital to show their support.

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