Venezuela launches criminal investigation into opposition leaders

The attorney general, a government ally, accuses María Corina Machado and Edmundo González of "incitement".

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersCriminal probe launched into Venezuela opposition leadersReutersMaría Corina Machado, who was barred from running for office, has managed to unite the oppositionThe Venezuelan attorney general, a close ally of President Nicolás Maduro, has announced he is investigating opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González for alleged "incitement to insurrection".

The opposition leaders had earlier called on the security forces to "side with the people" and ignore any orders to repress anti-government protests.

Tension has been running high since the electoral authority, which is closely aligned with the government, declared Mr Maduro the winner without making detailed voting tallies public.

The opposition has uploaded copies of the voting tallies as evidence that it was Mr González and not President Maduro who won the election.

On Sunday, the Washington Post said it had reviewed more than 23,000 of the tally sheets collected by the opposition - which amounts to 80% of voting machines across Venezuela.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74ll793g42o

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