The streets of Venezuela are on fire, literally in some cases, as protestors throw Molotov cocktails and raise burning barricades against Venezuelan police and state security.

The student protests began earlier this month and have since spread throughout the country, resulting in violence and, in some cases, tragedy. Reuters reports that at least five people have been killed in the demonstrations, the most recent being a young student and local beauty queen by the name of Genesis Carmona. She was shot in the head.

The protests were sparked by a discontent towards current president and Hugo Chavez sympathizer, Nicolas Maduro, with many questioning the legitimacy of his election. Venezuelans are critical of his socialist government and are demanding he resign, blaming him for the country's high inflation and crime rate, shortage of goods and limitations on free speech.

The recent arrest of Leopoldo Lopez has also added fuel to the fire. Lopez was a prominent figure of the protests, the unofficial leader of the movement to get Maduro out of office. However, Lopez was apprehended following a violent protest that resulted in the deaths of three protestors. He was charged with terrorism, conspiracy and murder, and can face more than a decade in prison.

The Venezuelan government's response to the protests have come under fire by several human rights activist groups. Amnesty International said that Lopez's arrest hints at "a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent in the country." Human Rights Watch warned the government to avoid "scapegoating" tactics in dealing with the opposition. They are also critical of the violent opposition to the demonstrations, with security forces using tear gas and firing bullets at protestors.

Venezuelan officials have come out strongly against the United States in response to the protests, accusing the US of plotting to destabilize the Venezuelan government. This mirrors similar accusations made by former president Hugo Chavez following a failed coup in 2002. U.S. diplomats were given 48 hours warning to leave the country, with President Maduro publically calling for the "Yankees" to go home at a Tuesday rally.

The Venezuelan protests are occurring at a time when another country, Ukraine, is also waging war against its government. These two are just the latest instances of nationwide protests, as other countries such as Turkey and Egypt have also engaged in similar movements in the last couple of years.