Venezuela arrests 2 opposition leaders

CARACAS: The Venezuelan intelligence service arrested two prominent opposition leaders early Tuesday, their relatives said, a day after a vote to choose a much-condemned assembly that supersedes parliament, reports AFP.

Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma were both already under house arrest when they were picked up by the intelligence service known by its in acronym Sebin, the wife of Lopez and children of Ledezma said separately.

The two men are Venezuela's most high profile opposition leaders. Both had called for a boycott of Sunday's vote for a so-called and all-powerful constituent assembly tasked with rewriting the constitution.

Both of their families said they held President Nicolas Maduro, the driving force behind the vote, responsible for the leaders' lives.

"They just took Leopoldo away. We do not know where he is or where they are taking him," Lopez's wife Lilian Tintori said on Twitter.

She released home security camera footage in which four uniformed police officers and three in civilian garb are seen putting her husband into a Sebin car and take off, with other cars escorting them.

The children of Ledezma -- named Victor, Vanessa and Antonietta -- also said on Twitter that the Sebin had taken away their father.

Opposition leaders and local media posted cellphone footage of Ledezma being taken away from his home forcibly while still wearing pajamas.

Lopez, 46, was transferred to house arrest in July of this year after serving three years and five months in prison as part of a 14-year term.

 

 

Venezuela arrests 2 opposition leaders

CARACAS: The Venezuelan intelligence service arrested two prominent opposition leaders early Tuesday, their relatives said, a day after a vote to choose a much-condemned assembly that supersedes parliament, reports AFP. Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma were both already under house arrest when they were picked up by the intelligence service known by its in acronym Sebin, the wife of Lopez and children of Ledezma said separately. The two men are Venezuelas most high profile opposition leaders. Both had called for a boycott of Sundays vote for a so-called and all-powerful constituent assembly tasked with rewriting the constitution. Both of their families said they held President Nicolas Maduro, the driving force behind the vote, responsible for the leaders lives. They just took Leopoldo away. We do not know where he is or where they are taking him, Lopezs wife Lilian Tintori said on Twitter. She released home security camera footage in which four uniformed police officers and three in civilian garb are seen putting her husband into a Sebin car and take off, with other cars escorting them. The children of Ledezma -- named Victor, Vanessa and Antonietta -- also said on Twitter that the Sebin had taken away their father. Opposition leaders and local media posted cellphone footage of Ledezma being taken away from his home forcibly while still wearing pajamas. Lopez, 46, was transferred to house arrest in July of this year after serving three years and five months in prison as part of a 14-year term.