Hundreds of students staged demonstrations in Venezuelan eastern states of Nueva Esparta and Anzoátegui to support private television RCTV and reject the government move not to renew the broadcast license for the 53-year-old TV channel.

Local radio station Radio Caracas Radio reported that in Nueva Esparta state students staged a peaceful march from their campuses to downtown Porlamar, the state's capital town.

Dozens of employees and people also joined the demonstration demanding respect for freedom of expression.

In Anzoátegui state, dozens of university students took the streets to demonstrate supporting RCTV.