Air France suspends flights to Venezuela

Air France has suspended flights to Venezuela as the country votes for a constituent assembly amid violent protests against the rule of President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan police tackle a demonstrator during a protest on Thursday Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Air France will not fly to Caracas from Sunday to Tuesday inclusive, the company announced on Saturday.

"The safety of customers and staff is a priority," a statement said.

A Saturday flight from Paris Charles De Gaulle airport was still scheduled to depart, an airline spokesman said.

Four months of protests against Maduro have already claimed 113 lives, according to prosecutors, eight of them during a two-day general strike that ended Thursday.