Regionally sponsored efforts to end two months of political violence in Venezuela by brokering a dialogue between Presi-dent Nicolas Maduro and some opposi-tion groups started this week amid indica-tions that they could stall quickly. After initially resisting calls for crisis talks,Maduro met opposition leader Henrique Capriles in Caracas on 10 April.The meeting was arranged by the South American union of nations (Unasur),which late Venezuelan presi-dent Hugo Chavez founded.At least 40 people have been killed in clashes involving anti-government protesters, security forces and government-backed armed paramilitary groups.Over 2,000 people have been arrested.The central bank estimates that the protests have already cost Venezuela the equivalent of up to$15bn of non-oil economic output.
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