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Venezuela charges Caracas mayor Ledezma over 'conspiracy' | Venezuela charges Caracas mayor Ledezma over 'conspiracy' |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma has been indicted for plotting violence against Venezuela's government - a move condemned by the country's opposition. | Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma has been indicted for plotting violence against Venezuela's government - a move condemned by the country's opposition. |
The attorney general's office said Mr Ledezma, 59, would remain in a military prison pending his trial. | The attorney general's office said Mr Ledezma, 59, would remain in a military prison pending his trial. |
President Nicolas Maduro earlier accused the opposition mayor of being involved in a US-backed coup. | President Nicolas Maduro earlier accused the opposition mayor of being involved in a US-backed coup. |
This comes on the anniversary of the start of protests against Mr Maduro's rule that left dozens of people dead. | This comes on the anniversary of the start of protests against Mr Maduro's rule that left dozens of people dead. |
On Friday, opponents of the president again protested in the capital against what they described as a crackdown on his political opponents. | On Friday, opponents of the president again protested in the capital against what they described as a crackdown on his political opponents. |
The US has also denounced the "systemic intimidation" by the Venezuelan authorities of the country's opposition. | The US has also denounced the "systemic intimidation" by the Venezuelan authorities of the country's opposition. |
State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "Venezuela's problems cannot be solved by criminalising legitimate, democratic dissent." | State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "Venezuela's problems cannot be solved by criminalising legitimate, democratic dissent." |
Daniel Pardo, BBC News, Caracas | |
The news of Mr Ledezma's arrest was surprising, but Venezuelans have seen this before. Of 76 opposition mayors in office, 33 are facing a trial. | |
Last time a prominent opposition politician was jailed - Leopoldo Lopez, a year ago - there were large street protests. But not this time. | |
Opposition leaders asked people to not take the "government's bait" by staging large protests, a scenario which would make violence more likely. Many analysts argue that protests benefit the government as they create a common threat unifying the government's supporters, and giving Mr Maduro grounds to condemn the opposition. | |
The opposition's strategy this time is different. It aims to win parliamentary elections later this year by capitalising on Mr Maduro's declining popularity. That would be a outcome not seen for decades in Venezuela. | |
The attorney general's office said on Friday that Mr Ledezma was charged with conspiracy to plot violence against the government. | The attorney general's office said on Friday that Mr Ledezma was charged with conspiracy to plot violence against the government. |
This came a day after camouflaged police smashed into the mayor's office in the banking district and carried him away. | This came a day after camouflaged police smashed into the mayor's office in the banking district and carried him away. |
President Maduro has said the opposition leader must answer "for all the crimes committed against the country's peace and security". | President Maduro has said the opposition leader must answer "for all the crimes committed against the country's peace and security". |
But the country's opposition is now demanding the authorities produce any evidence of the alleged conspiracy. | But the country's opposition is now demanding the authorities produce any evidence of the alleged conspiracy. |
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles asked: "Does Maduro think that putting everyone in prison is going to get him 50 popularity points or that he's going to win elections?" | Opposition leader Henrique Capriles asked: "Does Maduro think that putting everyone in prison is going to get him 50 popularity points or that he's going to win elections?" |
Mr Ledezma was on a list of people and foreign powers named by Mr Maduro last week as attempting to bring down his administration. | Mr Ledezma was on a list of people and foreign powers named by Mr Maduro last week as attempting to bring down his administration. |
Mr Ledezma, Caracas mayor since 2008, replied that it was government corruption that was bringing down Venezuela. | Mr Ledezma, Caracas mayor since 2008, replied that it was government corruption that was bringing down Venezuela. |
Last year, weeks of anti-government protests led to more than 40 deaths. | Last year, weeks of anti-government protests led to more than 40 deaths. |
Venezuela's economy has been heavily affected by the drop in oil prices and in late January, thousands of Venezuelans joined an opposition march in Caracas. | Venezuela's economy has been heavily affected by the drop in oil prices and in late January, thousands of Venezuelans joined an opposition march in Caracas. |
They voiced dissatisfaction with high inflation, crime and the shortage of many staple goods in the shops. | They voiced dissatisfaction with high inflation, crime and the shortage of many staple goods in the shops. |
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