Thousands of students and opposition supporters have held another rally in the Venezuelan capital as part of ongoing protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

At one point effigies of the president were burnt as an extension of an Easter ritual – the students said they were calling for the resurrection of democracy.

“This burning of Judas is to represent the end of an era. The end to the pain, the disgrace of a mother seeing her son hurt in the street wanting to be able to have a better future. This is the end of the dictatorship of Mr. Maduro,” explained one student.

Anti-Maduro protests since February have led to violence killing at least 41 people. The dead have been on both sides of the political divide.

Hundreds of people have been detained, the majority have since been released but a number of high-profile opposition politicians are still in detention.

Attempts are being made at establishing a dialogue between Venezuela’s government and the opposition – it is said to be making slow progress.