Buenos Aires [Argentina], May 26: Parliamentary elections were under way in Venezuela on Sunday amid a boycott by opposition parties following a wave of arrests.
According to figures from the Interior Ministry, security forces recently arrested more than 70 people, including prominent opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa.
The authoritarian government in Caracas accuses them of planning terrorist attacks on embassies, hospitals, police stations and substations in order to disrupt the elections.
Venezuelans are electing 285 members of parliament, 24 governors and numerous mayors, city councillors and local representatives.
For the first time, officials for the disputed border region of Essequibo were also to be elected. Venezuela claims the area, which belongs to neighbouring Guyana. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
