Paramaribo, March 12 (RHC) -- Desi Bouterse, the current head of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), has pledged to call a meeting of regional leaders to discuss the situation in Venezuela -- gripped by more than one-month of violent riots.

In a video interview ahead of a flight to Chile, Bouterse, who also serves as Suriname's president, said that he will work to get South American leaders together in Chile, and he believed that with insights from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, UNASUR will be able to reach a solution to the situation in that country.

The words came in response to Maduro's request made to Bouterse last week to hold a UNASUR meeting to inform regional leaders of the violent attacks and the small groups that have tried to undermine social life and impose a political situation that favors foreign intervention and the toppling of the constitutional government in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a young man was killed during a protest in the western city of San Cristobal, bringing the death toll to at least 22 in the month-long unrest.

Venezuela has witnessed violent actions since February 12th, allegedly triggered by economic hardships in the oil-rich country.

The government says the violent actions carried out by far-right groups aim to destabilize the country and influence public opinion. Caracas also accused the United States of backing the opposition to launch a coup d’état in the South American country.