Venezuela’s government has confirmed rumours of talks with a jailed opposition leader to end riots that claimed two more lives on Wednesday.
The deaths of 17-year-old militant Neomar “Neon” Lander and Bolivarian National Guard Sergeant William Jose Mendoza in the capital Caracas brought the death toll to 83 — by regional news network Telesur’s count.
Opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) coalition claimed Mr Lander was a peaceful protester who was hit by a police teargas canister.
But Public Defender Tarek William Saab said Mr Lander was killed when a homemade bomb he was preparing to throw exploded next to his chest
Cuba’s Prensa Latina reported on Wednesday that Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez confirmed negotiations with Popular Will (VP) party leader Leopoldo Lopez on Tuesday night.
Ms Lopez told a meeting broadcast by Venezolana de Television from the Fort Tiuna military prison in Caracas. “A dialogue with Leopoldo Lopez has begun and we are going to show it on national television.”
That was despite denials by his wife Lilian Tintori, who has lobbied US President Donald Trump, Pope Francis and other world leaders to pressure President Nicolas Maduro’s government to release the far-right leader.
Mr Lopez was sentenced to nearly 14 years jail in 2015 for inciting the last outbreak of “guarimba” regime-change violence in 2014 that left 43 dead. He was moved to Fort Tiuna last March.
Ms Rodriguez visited Mr Lopez at the prison on Sunday with former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, one of three former leaders attempting to mediate between the government and the Mud.
They did not say what they discussed with him.
But Caracas Libertador municipality Mayor Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday he “has the evidence” Mr Lopez is willing to end the two months of putschist bloodshed in demand of early presidential elections in return for being moved to house arrest.
He said Mr Lopez was “was very willing during the meeting to propose, even to sign documents to stop violence,” but that Ms Tintori was obstructing the deal.
Ms Tintori insisted on Monday her husband was not willing to negotiate his release, but admitted the question of house arrest had been discussed.
The deaths of 17-year-old militant Neomar “Neon” Lander and Bolivarian National Guard Sergeant William Jose Mendoza in the capital Caracas brought the death toll to 83 — by regional news network Telesur’s count.
Opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) coalition claimed Mr Lander was a peaceful protester who was hit by a police teargas canister.
But Public Defender Tarek William Saab said Mr Lander was killed when a homemade bomb he was preparing to throw exploded next to his chest
Cuba’s Prensa Latina reported on Wednesday that Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez confirmed negotiations with Popular Will (VP) party leader Leopoldo Lopez on Tuesday night.
Ms Lopez told a meeting broadcast by Venezolana de Television from the Fort Tiuna military prison in Caracas. “A dialogue with Leopoldo Lopez has begun and we are going to show it on national television.”
That was despite denials by his wife Lilian Tintori, who has lobbied US President Donald Trump, Pope Francis and other world leaders to pressure President Nicolas Maduro’s government to release the far-right leader.
Mr Lopez was sentenced to nearly 14 years jail in 2015 for inciting the last outbreak of “guarimba” regime-change violence in 2014 that left 43 dead. He was moved to Fort Tiuna last March.
Ms Rodriguez visited Mr Lopez at the prison on Sunday with former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, one of three former leaders attempting to mediate between the government and the Mud.
They did not say what they discussed with him.
But Caracas Libertador municipality Mayor Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday he “has the evidence” Mr Lopez is willing to end the two months of putschist bloodshed in demand of early presidential elections in return for being moved to house arrest.
He said Mr Lopez was “was very willing during the meeting to propose, even to sign documents to stop violence,” but that Ms Tintori was obstructing the deal.
Ms Tintori insisted on Monday her husband was not willing to negotiate his release, but admitted the question of house arrest had been discussed.