Venezuela’s National Guard has taken complete control of Plaza Altamira in the capital Caracas’ upscale eastern Chacao borough, which anti-government protesters had been using as a base for weeks of demonstrations that have left at least 28 people dead.

“We're deployed since 3 AM in the entire municipality,” said Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres.  “We’re re-establishing the right of thousands of citizens of Chacao who have been forced to stay inside their homes by violent actions.”

For weeks, President Nicolas Maduro had chided Chaco’s conservative mayor for failing to maintain control of the square.  Mayor Ramon Muchacho, who says he supports the peaceful protesters, said it was the central government’s responsibility to maintain order.  Maduro finally took him up on the invitation. 

Some local residents in the opposition stronghold actually welcomed the government's takeover of the plaza.  “What I didn't understand was the violence of making the barricades,” said 39-year old Jorge Chayeb. 

The violence hasn’t completely subsided.  Over the weekend, 40-year old National Guard Captain Jose Guillen Araque was shot and killed confronting a barricade of burning tyres manned by at least 40 rightwing protesters.