World

Venezuelan forces search homes of 2 opposition figures

24 of March 2019

AP Photo,Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, arrives to the National Assembly for a meeting with "Frente Amplio," a coalition of opposition parties, and other civic groups in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, March 18, 2019. President Nicolas Maduro has remained in power despite heavy pressure from the United States and other countries arrayed against him, managing to retain the loyalty of most of Venezuela’s military leaders. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan security forces have searched the homes of two key supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is escalating a campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan intelligence agents early Thursday entered the homes of opposition lawmaker Sergio Vergara and of Roberto Marrero, a lawyer who heads Guaido’s office. Both men accompanied Guaido on a recent Latin American tour to build international support for his efforts to remove Maduro.

Guaido confirmed the operation against his aides in a Twitter post. Vergara also tweeted about security forces entering his home, saying they were violating his parliamentary immunity.

Guaido says he is the rightful leader of Venezuela and that Maduro’s re-election last year was illegitimate. Maduro says Guaido is a collaborator in a U.S. plot to overthrow his government.