Clashes at Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez's trial

Fighting broke out Thursday between supporters of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez and pro-government demonstrators outside his trial on charges of inciting violence during protests last year.

Wielding sticks and plastic bottles, supporters of socialist President Nicolas Maduro's government descended on a group of Lopez's followers who had been waiting since the early hours of the morning for the final phase of his trial at the Supreme Court of Justice, an AFP correspondent said.

Lopez supporters said one of their activists had died of a heart attack during the scuffle -- a claim that could not be independently verified.

The police and national guard later intervened to keep the two groups apart.

The court is expected to return a verdict soon in Lopez's case. The final phase of his trial opened last Friday.

The popular dissident, who has been held at a military prison since February 2014, faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted.

Numerous human rights groups have called for Lopez's release, condemning the case against him as politically motivated.

His lawyer says there have been serious irregularities in the trial, which is being held behind closed doors.

The judge admitted 138 witnesses for the prosecution but just one of the 50 witnesses and pieces of evidence submitted by the defense.

Lopez, a US-trained economist, is one of the main leaders of the radical opposition movement seeking to force Maduro's ouster.

He was a prominent figure during last year's protests, which erupted in response to violent crime, a sinking economy and severe shortages of basic goods.

Between February and June last year, 43 people were killed in protest-related violence.

Lopez was arrested on February 18, 2014, handing himself in to police after giving an impassioned speech to his supporters.

In May, the 44-year-old opposition leader staged a month-long hunger strike to pressure authorities to set a date for legislative elections.

He ended the strike after the vote was set for December 6. Opinion polls indicate Maduro's movement risks losing for the first time since his late mentor Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999.

Source: AFP