The anti-government protests started on Monday, and even then Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he had had it.

"I've had enough," said angry Maduro, who has held a wobbly grip on power since he replaced late-President Hugo Chavez last year. "You can accuse me of what you want, I am obliged to defend democracy and the peace of the people."

Two days later and the protests have turned violent.

When the demonstrations started, there were simply a few hundred protesters — mostly students — in cities around the country. Those students called for others to join them today as the country celebrates 'Youth Day', a holiday that commemorates students who participated in the struggle for Venezuelan Independence in the 19th century.

Now people are out in the streets by the thousands. The word in the Twitterverse is that helicopters fly over Caracas as armed motorists supporting the government ride through the streets.

"I am in Caracas and there are fallen students in the streets and the media isn't saying anything," says one Twitter user.

Reuters is reporting one protester dead. National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello, an ally of Maduro's, said that the deceased was a government supporter.

"He's a comrade assassinated by the right-wing fascist hordes," he said in a speech.

Maduro has called the protesters "a Nazi-fascist" current.

Careful with the picture below, it's not for the faint of heart.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/venezuela...2#ixzz2t9RCBFqk