Venezuela is less than a week away from a presidential election pitting President Hugo Chávez against challenger Henrique Capriles. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people turned out for separate rallies led by the rival candidates. Tensions escalated on Saturday when three supporters of Capriles were gunned down in Barinas state after Chávez supporters blocked an opposition motorcade. At a rally, Chávez condemned the attack and vowed an investigation.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez: “We all have to regret very much the deaths of two people yesterday in Barinas state in a clash over there between two groups, one in a caravan and the other on the street, and someone shot and two people died. It is very regrettable. I tell all Venezuelans, it’s not with violence that we face off; it’s with votes, ideas.”