Thousands of Venezuelan students and opposition supporters have joined an anti-government rally in the capital, Caracas.
A demonstrator with a sign saying 'no more repression' standing in front of members of the national guard. Photo: AFP
The government deployed hundreds of government security forces to prevent a crowd banging pots and pans from marching towards the food ministry.
The BBC reports there were similar marches in at least five other Venezuelan cities.
In eastern Caracas, police fired tear gas against protesters trying to erect barricades in the streets.
For a month, demonstrators have been complaining about the high levels of violence and shortages of food staples like bread, sugar, milk and butter.
The authorities say 21 people have been killed in the weeks of unrest.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles told the crowd in Caracas that detained students and others must be released before any talks with the government.
The opposition criticised the heavy security operation put in place by the government to prevent the march from reaching the food ministry.
The government said it wanted to contain the march because it "had not been authorised".
