Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro later today is to meet with opposition leader Henrique Capriles to help ease nearly two weeks or protests that have left nine people dead.  The two will be at a gathering of governors and mayors which could serve as a forum to present the opposition’s grievances.

Sunday’s pro- and anti-government demonstrations were largely peaceful.  The government’s latest show of support came from elderly pensioners, in a strategy that has organized demonstrations by groups of people who’ve benefited from the Socialist government’s policies since first being elected in 1998. 

“In just a week, youth, students, workers, women and elderly adults have mobilized against violence, in favor of peace (and) the nation,” wrote Executive Vice President Jorge Arreaza on social media.

Saturday’s anti-government protests degenerated into violence.  The latest protest-related death was a young woman who died after being shot in the face with a rubber bullet.