YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused opposition protesters of setting alight a government supporter in Caracas on the 50th day of protests, BBC reports.

The protester suffered burns to 80% of his body after he was engulfed in flames. Officials said he was also stabbed in Saturday's protests.

On the same day, an opposition activist was gunned down, bringing the overall number killed in recent protests to 48.

Speaking on his weekly TV programme, Mr Maduro described it as "a hate crime and a crime against humanity".

"A human being is set on fire at a 'peaceful demonstration' by the opposition in Caracas," he wrote, posting a video of the incident.

Anti-government protests are underway in Venezuela for several weeks already, with the death toll rising.