Mr. Maduro and his ministers have claimed that industrial sabotage was behind the power failure. Energy analysts and power sector unionists say the failure was a disaster in waiting caused by years of mismanagement, corruption and brain drain. Mr. Díaz’s wife, who is fighting breast cancer and chronic neurological disease, held back tears as she pleaded for his release outside the attorney general’s office. She was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and prominent Venezuelan clergymen, journalists and opposition politicians. Ms. Soto accused Mr. Maduro of abusing her husband to deter Venezuelans from sharing information on social media, which has become the main source of news for most in the country.

Source: New York Times March 12, 2019 21:08 UTC