President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government, facing a wave of major opposition protests since last month, later issued a short "proof of life" video in which Lopez said he was fine. Officials accused Lopez's family of stirring up a media frenzy to get attention and further stoke the protests. Lopez is Venezuela's most prominent imprisoned politician, and U.S. President Donald Trump in February called for his release after a White House meeting with Tintori. Lopez's supporters say he was tried in a kangaroo court because he had been viewed as a future presidential hopeful and a threat to Maduro. The death toll in violent Venezuela's month of unrest has been creeping up, reaching at least 36 after two latest cases.

Source: bd News24 May 04, 2017 19:52 UTC