University President disapproves of "harassment of student protests"

José Virtuoso, the president of Andrés Bello Catholic University (UACB), read out a communiqué from the University Council to the Venezuelan society stating that the decisions made to fill the current vacancy of President Hugo Chávez, reelected and proclaimed in October 2012, have enhanced the existent political polarization.

"Solving by democratic means, in accordance with the Constitution, the serious and unprecedented event of the absence of the president-elect and failure to hold his incumbency is most urgent," the communiqué reads.

In addition, harassment of the protests staged by students "from several universities throughout the country, as well as the accusations made by several government spokespersons, in the absence of the right to defense and in default of evidence of the charges made are refused."