Low turnout for general strike called by Venezuelan opposition

A general strike across Venezuela, called by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), was derided by President Nicolas Maduro on Friday after a lower than expected turnout.

Speaking at a rally of supporters, Maduro said that "the strike by the oligarchy has failed, and peace has triumphed."

The MUD, enraged at the suspension of a recall referendum process against Maduro, had called for a strike lasting 12 hours on Friday. However, it seemed that not as many of its supporters as expected had followed its instructions.

The Minister of Work, Oswaldo Vera, told the private Union Radio that attendance of workers in shops, banks, transports and private business were "complete normal".

"It is with great satisfaction that we can say that the strike...sought by sectors of the right was a resounding disaster," he continued.

A major economic strike has brought crippling inflation to Venezuela and some Maduro opponents had said that they could not afford to stop working.

On Twitter, former opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said that the strike had been part of "voluntary" efforts and that a "coup" had been held against the Constitution, with the paralyzing of the referendum process.

The opposition MUD has now called for a new day of national mobilization on Nov. 3, despite having agreed to take part in talks with the government on Oct. 30 Enditem