Venezuela marks anniversary of Chavez's death with pomp and protests

CARACAS (Reuters) - Followers of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez will flood the nation's streets on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of his death, a sad but welcome distraction for his would-be successor, who has struggled for a month to contain violent protests.

A year after Chavez succumbed to cancer, his self-proclaimed "son", President Nicolas Maduro, faces a determined challenge to his rule from an explosion of anti-government demonstrations that have led to clashes with security forces and 18 deaths.