Venezuela protest brings death toll to 56

Venezuela announced the death of a young man in a protest in the western city of Maracaibo on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 56 since April 1.

The investigation into the incident has been assigned to Israel Vargas, a public prosecutor in the state of Zulia, with Maracaibo as its capital.

According to a government report, a group of protesters, including 23-year-old Adrian Jose Duque Bravo, were near a residential complex when Duque Bravo was shot before the protests were dispersed by the army.

Duque Bravo was taken to a nearby hospital but died Wednesday night.

Since the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) called for wide protests in early April, the death toll stands at 56, with over 1,000 injured, and 284 arrested, according to Venezuela's prosecutor-general.

Protests against the government continued Wednesday, and there were more clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

The government has accused the MUD alliance of promoting "terrorist violence" by hiring paramilitary groups and gangs to spread chaos.

However, the MUD has said the protests will continue until President Nicolas Maduro steps down.