Venezuela's Maduro meets opposition as death toll from protests rises

Opposition supporters hold candles as they take part in a rally against Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas April 10, 2014. REUTERS/Christian Veron

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro cautioned opposition leaders to keep their expectations modest on Thursday as he hosted them for mediated talks intended to stem two months of deadly political unrest.

Maduro has held similar meetings previously but this was the first to include Henrique Capriles, who Maduro narrowly beat in last year's presidential election, and the first to be brokered by foreign ministers from the Unasur bloc of South American governments.