Venezuela Arrests Two Police over Death of Protester

Venezuela has arrested two National Guards over the death of a student in anti-government protests that swept the country in recent months, the government said Tuesday.

In all, 41 people have died since students and other opponents of the leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro took to the streets in February to protest rampant crime, runaway inflation and shortages of basic goods.

Tuesday's case involved the death of a student hit in the head with buckshot in the central state of Carabobo during a rally on February 19.

With the new arrests, nearly 20 members of the security forces have been arrested over alleged abuses during the street protests.

Venezuelan authorities are investigating 145 cases of alleged human rights abuses in connection with the protests.

They started February 4 and largely calmed down in April, although there are still periodic outbreaks of violence in well-to-do eastern districts of Caracas and the western cities of San Cristobal and Barquisimeto.