181 reporters beaten, arrested or robbed as Venezuela protests continue

A total of 181 journalists have been the target of attacks, thefts or arbitrary detentions in Venezuela since the start of anti-government protests two months ago, a reporters' union said Saturday.

The Union of Press Workers said 60 percent of the attacks were carried out by security forces, with just a quarter done by demonstrators on either side.

Since nearly daily protests began in early February, the union has tallied 82 cases of harassment, 40 physical attacks and 35 thefts or destruction of cameras and other materials by the police or demonstrators.

It has also counted 23 arbitrary arrests of reporters, it said.

The protests are denouncing rampant street crime, soaring inflation, poor job prospects and shortages of such essential goods as milk and toilet paper.

They have left 41 dead and more than 650 wounded, and prompted accusations of human rights violations by police.