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Venezuelan opposition politician Manuel Rosales arrested | Venezuelan opposition politician Manuel Rosales arrested |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Venezuelan opposition politician Manuel Rosales has been arrested on his return to the country after six years of self-imposed exile. | |
Mr Rosales, who said he wanted to take part in December's parliamentary elections, was detained shortly after landing in the city of Maracaibo. | |
He ran against the late President Hugo Chavez in 2006. | |
Mr Rosales fled to Peru in 2009 amid corruption allegations, which he says are politically motivated. | |
He was arrested on Thursday as he arrived at Maracaibo from the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. He is expected to appear in court in Caracas shortly. | |
'God and the Virgin Mary' | 'God and the Virgin Mary' |
Mr Rosales is charged with corruption during his term as governor of Zulia state between 2000 and 2008. | |
Mr Rosales had announced last Friday that he was planning to return to Venezuela. | Mr Rosales had announced last Friday that he was planning to return to Venezuela. |
Shortly before departing from Aruba he posted a picture of him boarding. | Shortly before departing from Aruba he posted a picture of him boarding. |
"With God and the Virgin Mary, preparing to go to Venezuela to meet my people again," he posted on Twitter. | "With God and the Virgin Mary, preparing to go to Venezuela to meet my people again," he posted on Twitter. |
The authorities had warned that there was an arrest warrant against him. | |
Venezuelans go to the polls on 6 December for the first parliamentary elections since President Nicolas Maduro was elected in 2013. | Venezuelans go to the polls on 6 December for the first parliamentary elections since President Nicolas Maduro was elected in 2013. |
The country is facing a serious economic crisis, which the opposition blames on failed socialist policies of Mr Chavez and his successor, Mr Maduro. | |
The government says the country has been hit by a sharp drop in international oil prices, but it also accuses powerful groups of boycotting the economy to destabilise Mr Maduro. | The government says the country has been hit by a sharp drop in international oil prices, but it also accuses powerful groups of boycotting the economy to destabilise Mr Maduro. |
Several other opposition leaders have also been detained since last year. | Several other opposition leaders have also been detained since last year. |
Last month, prominent opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014 in which 43 people - from both sides of the political divide - were killed. | Last month, prominent opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014 in which 43 people - from both sides of the political divide - were killed. |
He was sentenced to 13 years and nine months in prison. | He was sentenced to 13 years and nine months in prison. |
The US government and the United Nations have called for the release of the opposition politicians. | The US government and the United Nations have called for the release of the opposition politicians. |
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