Venezuelan police arrest National Assembly’s No. 2 leader

Venezuelan police arrested the vice president of the National Assembly on Wednesday, the first senior opposition official taken into custody following last week’s failed military uprising against President Nicolás Maduro.

National Assembly Vice President Edgar Zambrano tweeted while being arrested, saying his car was surrounded by forces from Venezuela’s SEBIN intelligence police.

His car was then “forcibly” moved to the Helicoide prison by a crane when he refused to exit the vehicle.

Fuimos sorprendidos por el SEBIN, al negarnos salir de nuestro vehículo, utilizaron una grúa para trasladarnos de manera forzosa directamente al Helicoide. Los demócratas nos mantenemos en pie de lucha.

— Edgar Zambrano (@edgarzambranoad) May 8, 2019

National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó, who the U.S. and 50 other countries have recognized as Venezuela’s interim president, confirmed Zambrano was arrested.

{mosads}”The regime sequestered the first vice president of the National Assembly, @edgarzambranoad,” he tweeted. “They’re trying to disintegrate the power that represents all Venezuelans, but they won’t succeed.” 

Alertamos al pueblo de Venezuela y la comunidad internacional:

El régimen secuestró al primer vicepresidente de la @AsambleaVE @edgarzambranoad.

Intentan desintegrar el poder que representa a todos los venezolanos, pero no lo van a lograr. pic.twitter.com/pA7vvV2nbu

— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) May 8, 2019

Zambrano was one of 10 opposition officials charged with treason, conspiracy and rebellion in connection to last week’s attempt to unseat Maduro.

The effort failed when Guaidó could not get the support of key military leaders.