Anti-government demonstrators wearing masks hold a makeshift shield during clashes with police in Caracas

Anti-government demonstrators wearing masks hold a makeshift shield during clashes with police at Altamira square in Caracas February 27, 2014. Venezuelans began a week-long national holiday on Thursday as some protests still simmered but President Nicolas Maduro’s government was hoping the break will take the heat out of the nation’s worst unrest for a decade. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo (VENEZUELA – Tags: POLITICS) CIVIL UNREST)