KING Felipe VI's annual Christmas Eve speech once again included a covert appeal to secessionist politicians, as well as raising concerns about young adults' struggle to afford housing and violence against women.
Venezuelan ambassador and diplomats 'trapped' in Madrid community centre by 'threatening' protesters
12/05/2017
SPAIN'S Venezuelan ambassador complained he was being 'held hostage' by a protest surrounding an expat cultural centre in Madrid staged by opponents of the South American country's president, Nicolás Maduro.
The demonstration, which the embassy photographed as shown left, meant ambassador Mario Isea and around another 100 diplomats inside the community centre on the C/ Hermosilla did not feel safe to leave the building.
Reacting furiously to the gathering which began at around 18.30, Isea called the police and 'ordered' them to break up the crowds, calling their action 'a serious incident' which 'violates the Geneva Convention'.
Protesters were clamouring against the conference titled Venezuela for Justice and Peace organised by the Movement in Support of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and attended by the association of Guarimba victims, which was being held in the community hall.
Isea said a 'tempest' of people – who banged saucepans in what is known as a cacerolada – showed a 'violent and defiant attitude', and claimed they even punched three people attending the conference, due to start at 19.30.
He said Spanish citizens, diplomats and Consulate staff were trapped inside while the 'violent contingent' in the street 'tried to sabotage' the conference.
The protest had been called by 'reactionary forces' who 'cannot tolerate hearing a truth different from the versions they splash all over the media'.
Most of the demonstrators were Venezuela-born expats, who shouted insults at those attending the conference, calling them 'rats', 'drug-dealers' and 'murderers', whilst chanting 'Podemos is pro-Chávez' and singing the Venezuelan national anthem.
Traffic was cut off by the 200-plus throng, and United Left leader Alberto Garzón – in coalition with Podemos – complained on Twitter that members of his own party were stuck inside and unable to get out due to being 'threatened' by the demonstrators.
This tweet was published at around 22.20 last night, when the protest was still in full flood.
At the time of publication, it was believed to be still ongoing.
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SPAIN'S Venezuelan ambassador complained he was being 'held hostage' by a protest surrounding an expat cultural centre in Madrid staged by opponents of the South American country's president, Nicolás Maduro.
The demonstration, which the embassy photographed as shown left, meant ambassador Mario Isea and around another 100 diplomats inside the community centre on the C/ Hermosilla did not feel safe to leave the building.
Reacting furiously to the gathering which began at around 18.30, Isea called the police and 'ordered' them to break up the crowds, calling their action 'a serious incident' which 'violates the Geneva Convention'.
Protesters were clamouring against the conference titled Venezuela for Justice and Peace organised by the Movement in Support of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and attended by the association of Guarimba victims, which was being held in the community hall.
Isea said a 'tempest' of people – who banged saucepans in what is known as a cacerolada – showed a 'violent and defiant attitude', and claimed they even punched three people attending the conference, due to start at 19.30.
He said Spanish citizens, diplomats and Consulate staff were trapped inside while the 'violent contingent' in the street 'tried to sabotage' the conference.
The protest had been called by 'reactionary forces' who 'cannot tolerate hearing a truth different from the versions they splash all over the media'.
Most of the demonstrators were Venezuela-born expats, who shouted insults at those attending the conference, calling them 'rats', 'drug-dealers' and 'murderers', whilst chanting 'Podemos is pro-Chávez' and singing the Venezuelan national anthem.
Traffic was cut off by the 200-plus throng, and United Left leader Alberto Garzón – in coalition with Podemos – complained on Twitter that members of his own party were stuck inside and unable to get out due to being 'threatened' by the demonstrators.
This tweet was published at around 22.20 last night, when the protest was still in full flood.
At the time of publication, it was believed to be still ongoing.
Related Topics
You may also be interested in ...
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