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U.S. condemns killing of opposition member in Venezuela

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday condemned the killing of a local opposition leader in Venezuela days before the Latin American country's legislative election and called on the government there to protect all political candidates. Luis Diaz, a leader of the opposition Democratic Action party in Guarico state in Venezuela, was shot at a public meeting on Wednesday night. "This was the deadliest of several recent attacks and acts of intimidation aimed at opposition candidates," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. "Campaigns of fear, violence, and intimidation have no place in democracy." (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Sandra Maler)