A Venezuelan opposition candidate has reportedly been shot dead at a campaign event, while standing alongside the wife of a jailed opposition leader.
Fellow Democratic Action party members reported Luis Manuel Diaz, local party leader, was killed Wednesday at an event in the town of Altagracia de Orituco.
Standing next to him was Lilian Tintori, wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. She was not reported to be injured. She tweeted a response to the shooting late Wednesday night, blaming the governing party and calling it "utter terror, harassment, and violence.”
Venezuela holds congressional elections on December 6.
Polls show Democratic Action and other parties are mounting a strong challenge to the ruling socialist government, led by President Nicolas Maduro, which has raised fears of conflict in a nation where politics often creates volatility on the ground.
There was no immediate confirmation of the incident in Altagracia from Venezuelan authorities.
Ramos blamed the ruling Socialist Party for the killing, without offering any evidence.
There was no immediate response from that party.
Some material for this report came from Reuters.
