ONE police officer was shot dead and two were wounded during violent protests demanding regime change in Venezuela — as opposition leaders upped the stakes in their bid to seize power.

The right-wing Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) opposition coalition held marches in cities across the country calling on President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government to quit.

At the main protest in the capital Caracas, Mud leaders called a general strike for today and a march on the presidential palace for next Thursday.