woman shot dead as thousands vote in unofficial referendum in Venezuela

Venezuela’s opposition party says a woman has been gunned down as polls are closed in the country’s unofficial referendum against the constitution.

The opposition party said paramilitary gunmen also shot and injured four other people in the capital Caracas. Nearly 20 million people were expected to cast their ballots in the referendum that aims to challenge the government’s bid to rewrite the constitution. The opposition-organized plebiscite is described as an act of disobedience by the Venezuelan government, with supporters of President Nicolas Maduro urging officials to boycott the voting. Maduro however called for a QUOTE peaceful participation in the political event.