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The Americas

Venezuela extends use of 100 bolivar bill until Jan. 2

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro greets supporters upon his arrival to a rally at Bolivar Avenue in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Maduro called for a pro-government rally as the country to give a tribute to the Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar meanwhile the country is on edge over his so-far failed plan to introduce larger-denominated bills to fight soaring inflation. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

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    A member of the Venezuelan militia shows a sample of a banknote with the image of opposition leader and President of National Assembly Henry Ramos Allup and a sign that reads in Spanish " out of circulation," during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro called for a pro-government rally as the country to give a tribute to the Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar meanwhile the country is on edge over his so-far failed plan to introduce larger-denominated bills to fight soaring inflation. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

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    Members of the Venezuelan militia shout slogans against opposition during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro called for a pro-government rally as the country to give a tribute to the Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar meanwhile the country is on edge over his so-far failed plan to introduce larger-denominated bills to fight soaring inflation. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (The Associated Press)

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela's government has decided to extend the use of the 100-bolivar note until Jan. 2, following protests and looting by people angry at being left largely without cash.

Venezuela's most widely used banknote went out of circulation on Friday amid the world's highest inflation, yet the higher-denomination bills that were supposed to replace it had not yet arrived at banks or ATMs. That forced people to rely on credit cards or to try to make purchases with bundles of hard-to-find smaller bills often worth less than a penny each.

The lack of currency had sparked social unrest, with looting and protests in six cities on Friday.

On Saturday, President Nicolas Maduro announced that the banknote would be temporarily restored, and blamed sabotage for the unavailability of the replacement currency.