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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 2 august 2017

2 Venezuelan opposition leaders jailed as crisis escalates

the full support of the coun- his loyalty to Maduro.
try’s most important institu- “We ask for respect for our
tions. democracy, for the way in
Venezuela’s powerful vice which we have decided
president, whom the U.S. to take the road that we
has accused of drug traf- deserve to take in peace,
ficking, said the newly in democracy, with toler-
elected constituent assem- ance, without violence and
bly would be convening without heading toward a
“within hours.” coup,” Padrino said.
In remarks aired on Ven- Lopez was released from
ezuela’s state television, the Ramo Verde prison on
Tareck El Aissami said that July 8 after serving three
results from Sunday’s elec- years of a 13-year sen-
tion have been reviewed tence on charges of incit-
and the 545 assembly ing violence at opposition
members would soon take rallies. Many human rights
the reins of the nation’s groups considered him a
government. political prisoner.
He didn’t give a specific Ledezma, 62, was also
time. detained in 2015 and has
Venezuela’s defense min- been under house arrest.
ister, Gen. Vladimir Padrino Like Lopez, he also recently
Lopez, also appeared on posted a video denounc-
The president of Venezuela’s National Assembly Julio Borges, right, speaks with the ambassa- television Tuesday to affirm ing Sunday’s vote.q
dor of Mexico Sylvia Sevilla, left, the ambassador of the United Kingdom Nicolas Harrocks, sec-
ond left, and Spain’s ambassador Jesus Silva during a meeting at National Assembly in Caracas,
Venezuela, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017. The president of the opposition-led National Assembly, Julio
Borges, told Venezuela that Maduro’s foes would continue protesting until they won free elections
and a change of government.
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN ruling party from power. ela,” the 46-year-old Lopez
Associated Press But they gave little indica- said.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) tion of how they planned He also said that his wife,
— Teams of heavily armed to do that, and the capi- Lilian Tintori, is pregnant,
security agents seized two tal was unusually quiet af- touching her belly and
of Venezuela’s top op- ter months of sometimes saying he has “one more
position leaders from their violent protests. While the reason to fight for Venezu-
homes in the middle of the United States and some ela.” He called the preg-
night Tuesday, dragging Latin American allies con- nancy “the best news I’ve
one into the street in his pa- demned the arrests, many received in the last 3 1/2
jamas as President Nicolas other nations and interna- years” — the time he spent
Maduro’s government de- tional organizations were behind bars before being
fied U.S. sanctions and in- silent or limited themselves released to house arrest
ternational condemnation to expressions of concern. last month. The couple had
of a plan to assume nearly Lopez’s supporters released been allowed some conju-
unlimited powers. a video he taped last week gal visits.
Leopoldo Lopez and Anto- saying he expected to be Maduro appeared unde-
nio Ledezma were being imprisoned again soon, terred in his plans to seat a
held at the Ramo Verde and calling on Venezu- special assembly this week
military prison south of the elans to be firm in resisting with powers to rewrite the
capital, accused by the Maduro. country’s constitution and
government-allied Su- “If you are looking at this override any other branch
preme Court of violating video now, it’s precisely be- of the Venezuelan govern-
the terms of their house ar- cause that occurred, be- ment. He has threatened
rest by plotting to escape cause they came and they to use those powers to go
and releasing video state- illegally imprisoned me after his opponents and the
ments criticizing Maduro. again unjustly, a prisoner of arrests Tuesday appeared
Both men’s allies denied consciousness, a prisoner to show he was willing to
the charges and vowed to for my ideas, a prisoner for proceed with full force.
continue to try to push the wanting a better Venezu- Maduro appears to have