Colombian president condemns killing of Venezuelan activist

BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said yesterday the whole world should condemn the killing of a Venezuelan opposition activist ahead of the country’s elections next week.

Luis Diaz, a leader of the opposition Democratic Action party in Guarico state in Venezuela’s central plains, was shot dead toward the end of a public meeting on Wednesday night, the latest of several violent incidents in the campaign ahead of Dec. 6 elections.

“What happened in Venezuela of course deserves the condemnation of the whole world,” Santos said during a visit to Monteria in northern Colombia. “This murder has no justification, we hope the case is investigated thoroughly and those responsible are tried.”

Polls show the ruling Socialists could lose the Venezuelan legislature for the first time in 16 years.