A mob attacked deputy María Corina Machado (Independent-Miranda state) when she left the military parade staged on Tuesday at Los Próceres promenade, southwest Caracas, to commemorate the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

Lieutenant Colonel (Army) Marcos Álvarez was injured as a stone hit him on the head, while Machado was hit on the face with a bottle.

Machado told El Universal newspaper that the incident occurred as she greeted a group of people attending the parade. "At that time another group of 50 people started screaming and throwing hard objects (stones and bottles) against, me and very kindly the troops surrounded me to protect me."

The parliamentarian was hit on the face and on the head but she said she was fine. "The troops supported me all the time," she said.

"This violent behavior should make us reflect. We will not lower our head. We will continue to try to make people understand that both the Bicentennial and the institutions belong to all Venezuelans," she said.

She claimed that the government once again used a civilian holiday to highlight "a personal and partisan vision."

"We can not commemorate the Independence of Venezuela without democracy, without freedom; so now more than ever, it is necessary to emphasize the ideals of 1811 for them to come true in our generation," she said.