Soldier among several shot dead in Venezuela poll violence

A soldier and two children have been shot dead in Venezuela - the latest of several people killed in demonstrations against a vote which protesters say is rigged.

The member of the armed forces was shot in the face when clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in the western town of La Grita, prosecutors said.

A 13-year-old was shot dead in the town of Capacho Viejo and a 17-year-old in Tucape, both in the western state of Tachira.

A youth opposition leader also was shot dead in Cumana and three men died in Merida and Barquisimeto after protests.

It brings the official number killed during the weekend to nine, with two losing their lives on Saturday. The opposition, however, has said the true death toll is 12.

Opposition supporters stand near a barricade in Caracas

In the capital Caracas, a number of police officers were injured after an explosion during one of the anti-government protests, according to a witness.

Venezuelan soldiers have been firing rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters blocking a highway and the country's national guard have been patrolling the main roads on bikes carrying shotguns.

Security forces members point their weapons as one fires at demonstrators

Sky's Stuart Ramsay said he was shot at as he stood nearby one of the protests. He said: "What we've seen is street demonstrations.

"These demonstrators wanted to gather to march towards the city against this election.

"It's quite clear the security forces have instructions to even stop those marches taking place.

Demonstrators burn police uniforms

"They were attacked initially with gas bombs. Then the national guard come in on their motorcycles and they are very very violent - we had our hands in the air and we were shot at. Our Venezuelan producer was shot in the arm.

"There are molotov cocktails being made on every street corner and there seems to be no end to what's going to happen here."

The protests follow claims President Nicolas Maduro will use the result of the Constituency Assembly election to crush dissenters and tighten his grip on power.

The violence is over the aim of the president, who faces no opposition in the elections, to use the assembly result to rewrite the constitution.

One 54-year-old militant, Carlos Zambrano, said: "We are here as pure resistance against the process happening today against the constitution. The people are not going to give up the streets until this awful government goes,"

"We will remain fighting until Maduro leaves," he vowed.

A demonstrator throws a Molotov cocktail

In the western Caracas neighbourhoods of El Paraiso and Montalban, residents said soldiers burst into apartment buildings looking for demonstrators.

Other journalists trying to report on what was happening in El Paraiso were set upon by soldiers who told them to leave.

One man in uniform told them: "Get out of here before s*** falls upon you."

Elsewhere, streets in Venezuela have been largely deserted with just a trickle of people heading to vote in the widely criticised elections.

Reports say more than 70% of people oppose the president's move.

Polls closed at 11pm UK time, with early reports saying many Venezuelans stayed away from the polls in massive numbers in a show of protest.

Opposition parties also boycotted the election, claiming Mr Maduro will use its result to crush dissenters and tighten his grip on power.

The president cast his ballot earlier in Caracas.

Anti-government activists set up barricades

If successful, President Maduro will essentially govern a one-party state, controlling the powerful 545-member assembly.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Twitter the election a "step toward dictatorship" and the United States will not accept an illegitimate government in Caracas.

"Maduro's sham election is another step toward dictatorship. We won't accept an illegitimate govt. The Venezuelan people & democracy will prevail," she tweeted.

The US has also said it is considering oil-related sanctions against Venezuela, with measures announced "as early as Monday", according to officials.The package is not expected to include a ban on Venezuelan oil but one option could put US shipments of lighter crude to Venezuela on hold.

Venezuela is the third-largest exporter of oil to the US, behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.

State employees, who depend on their free housing and food subsidies, have been bombarded with texts and calls telling them to vote or risk losing their lifelines.

The government controls the election returns and there will be no independent oversight.

President Maduro insists the new assembly is the only way to haul Venezuela out of its economic and political crisis, but has not explained how a new constitution would do so.

(SKY NEWS)