7 photos that show how Venezuela is on the brink of chaos

Two months of anti-government demonstrations in Venezuela have led to 55 people losing their lives as tensions in the country have escalated. Around 1,000 people have been injured in the latest wave of political unrest.

The protests began with a peaceful march, where large crowds moved towards government buildings in Central Caracas, demanding that fresh elections take place and that the acute shortage of medicine and food and other basic supplies be fixed.

For years, the Venezuelan regime has been defined by two important elements: Hugo Chavez’s charismatic leadership and an abundant oil income.

But as oil prices fell and inflation hit the country hard, Nicolás Maduro, Chavez's  successor, is losing ground and facing the impossibility of reestablishing the government’s legitimacy electorally.

On Wednesday, the pro-government electoral council announced to redraft the constitution and to delay regular elections until the end of the year. And his move has further prompted the clashes and demonstrators are again on streets.

“Protestors have hurled Molotov cocktails and fired catapults, they have also been shot and run over by water cannons. And those in the thick of street fighting say that the deaths have only strengthened their resolve”, reportsThe Guardian.

Looking at the images from Venezuela, the streets of Caracas that have been engulfed by the fog of tear gas and gas bombs reflect the daily goings on as clashes between the security forces and Venezuela’s anti-government demonstrators intensify.

Meanwhile, protestors have targeted the military base leading to more clashes and Venezuela TV also limits its live coverage of the protests.