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Page last updated at 11:05 GMT, Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Venezuelans worship 'holy thugs'

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Growing numbers of Venezuelans are paying tribute to a court of popular saints who were petty criminals in life.

The santos malandros or 'holy thugs' were shot and killed by the police in the 1960s and 70s.

The shrine grew up around the grave of Francisco Carrillo (aka Ismael) leader of a gang in Caracas who were alleged to help the city's poor.

Alfonso Daniels reports.

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