Breaking:protesters turned into violence in Venezuela a soldier and two children have been shot dead

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A soldier and two children have been shot dead in Venezuela - the latest of several people killed in demonstrations against a vote which protesters say is rigged. The member of the armed forces was shot in the face when clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in the western town of La Grita, prosecutors said. A 13-year-old was shot dead in the town of Capacho Viejo and a 17-year-old in Tucape, both in the western state of Tachira. A youth opposition leader also was shot dead in Cumana and three men died in Merida and Barquisimeto after protests. It brings the official number killed during the weekend to 10, with two losing their lives on Saturday. The opposition, however, has said the true death toll is 12. Opposition supporters stand near a barricade in Caracas Image: Opposition supporters stand near a barricade in Caracas :: Vote or lose your home: Venezuela's 'illegal' election In the capital Caracas, a number of police officers were injured after an explosion during one of the anti-government protests, according to a witness. Venezuelan soldiers have been firing rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters blocking a highway and the country's national guard have been patrolling the main roads on bikes carrying shotguns. Security forces members point their weapons as one fires at demonstrators Image: Security forces members point their weapons as one fires at demonstrators Sky's Stuart Ramsay said he was shot at as he stood nearby one of the protests. He said: "What we've seen is street demonstrations. "These demonstrators wanted to gather to march towards the city against this election. "It's quite clear the security forces have instructions to even stop those marches taking place. Demonstrators burn police uniforms Image: Demonstrators burn police uniforms "They were attacked initially with gas bombs. Then the national guard come in on their motorcycles and they are very very violent - we had our hands in the air and we were shot at. Our Venezuelan producer was shot in the arm. "There are molotov cocktails being made on every street corner and there seems to be no end to what's going to happen here." The protests follow claims President Nicolas Maduro will use the result of the Constituency Assembly election to crush dissenters and tighten his grip on power. preview image Video: Venezuela's controversial assembly explained The violence is over the aim of the president, who faces no opposition in the elections, to use the assembly result to rewrite the constitution. One 54-year-old militant, Carlos Zambrano, said: "We are here as pure resistance against the process happening today against the constitution. The people are not going to give up the streets until this awful government goes," "We will remain fighting until Maduro leaves," he vowed. A demonstrator throws a Molotov cocktail Image: A demonstrator throws a Molotov cocktail In the western Caracas neighbourhoods of El Paraiso and Montalban, residents said soldiers burst into apartment buildings looking for demonstrators. Other journalists trying to report on what was happening in El Paraiso were set upon by soldiers who told them to leave. One man in uniform told them: "Get out of here before s*** falls upon you."