Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has been forced out in a coup led by military officers. A business leader, Pedro Carmona, is heading up a transitional government, and has promised fresh presidential elections within a year.
At least fifteen unarmed demonstrators were shot dead last night, apparently triggering the move by the military. Mr Chavez in now under arrest, as is his former interior minister.
More than 80 people were injured in the disturbances when an estimated 150,000 people took to the streets on the third day of a general strike against government economic policies.
There have been protests and strikes against the former left-wing president for weeks. His critics included both business and labour leaders, who said he had failed to deliver on his election promises of tackling poverty and crime. Venezuela is the fourth largest oil exporter in the world.
