Venezuelan president calls for national peace conference after deadly riots

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called for a national peace conference this week to end three weeks of rioting that have claimed at least 11 lives in the country. The conference, to be held on Wednesday, will bring together all sectors of society, including political opponents, businessmen, unionists, senior citizens and others, to seek a peaceful conclusion to the violence that has wracked the country, President Maduro said during a nationally televised government rally of senior citizens supporting his leadership. "I say to the opposition that it is the time for us to work on the big issues,'' Maduro said. "It isn't the time for small gestures." The talks will be the first since rioting began on February 2. The country's opposition didn't immediately respond to Maduro's invitation, nor did the president give details about the format of talks. Maduro will address the nation again later in the evening, he said. Maduro said that government efforts to bring an end to violent protests are working. Violent acts were only reported in six municipalities Saturday night, compared to 18 the night before, he said. Maduro will meet opposition leader Henrique Capriles Radonski on Monday as part of a meeting of the country's governors. Capriles, who is the governor of Miranda state, called for Maduro to rein in government-backed paramilitary groups, and said at least 18 students have been tortured by the country's security forces. Maduro denies the charges. Before the meeting with governors, Maduro will address a rally of motorcyclists who support the government. Opposition leaders have repeatedly charged that many motorcyclists belong to the paramilitary groups beating up students. The riots are confronting Maduro with the biggest political challenge to his presidency since he was inaugurated in April 2013 to finish the term of the late Hugo Chavez Three weeks of steady rioting have dented Maduro's support, which was already buffeted by food shortages, soaring inflationand high crime. Many Venezuelans, including his supporters in the working class, complain about the lack of basic food, hand soap, toilet tissue and other necessities.