Sawt Falasteen - Venezuela's Machado freed after being 'taken away by force': opposition

The initial announcement by Machado's team that the 57-year-old had been "violently intercepted" while leaving a rally in Caracas on the eve of Maduro's inauguration for a contested third term caused widespread consternation.

Machado had earlier energized the opposition by emerging from hiding to deliver a defiant speech to thousands of supporters in central Caracas, telling Maduro's regime: "We are not afraid".

Her fate was initially unclear but her team later reported on X that she had been released after being "forced to record several videos."

It said she was knocked off the motorbike on which she was travelling during the incident, that "shots were fired" and that she was "taken away by force."

It added that she would later address the nation about the events.

- 'Don't play with fire' -

Her disappearance had caused an outcry among opposition supporters.

Exiled opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who the opposition says won July's election against Maduro, called for her "immediate release" and warned the security forces not to "play with fire."

Machado's public appearance -- her first in over four months -- marked the climax of rallies held across the country over Maduro's refusal to cede power to Gonzalez Urrutia.

Spain's foreign ministry too had condemned her reported detention.

Machado went into hiding shortly after the July 28 vote, after the security forces began cracking down on protests against Maduro's widely disputed victory claim.

She had urged opposition supporters to turn out in their "millions" to pressure Maduro to hand power to Gonzalez Urrutia, who several countries, including the United States, see as Venezuela's legitimate president-elect.

But the crowds on Thursday were smaller than those that turned out to protest in the direct aftermath of Maduro's alleged power grab last July, with some people saying they feared renewed bloodshed.

Thousands of ruling party loyalists held a rival demonstration in central Caracas on Thursday, vowing to prevent any attempt to thwart Maduro's return to office.

- US denies plot -

The opposition says its tally of polling station results showed Gonzalez Urrutia winning election by a landsldie.

"We will see each other very soon in Caracas, in freedom," Gonzalez Urrutia told his countrymen Thursday in an address from the Dominican Republic, where he wrapped up a diplomatic tour aimed at compounding Maduro's international isolation.

Maduro has, however, swatted away the pressure and warned that "fascists" who try to prevent his inauguration will be severely dealt with.

He has accused the United States -- long opposed to his rule -- of plotting to overthrow him.

The Venezuelan leader, who counts on the backing of Russia and Cuba, the military, courts and electoral commission, has claimed that a senior FBI official was among a group of seven "mercenaries" arrested this week.

The US State Department denied US involvement in any coup plot.

Maduro has ruled Venezuela since 2013 and despite a sustained economic crisis that has pushed seven million citizens to emigrate, has shown no intention of relinquishing power..

Ahead of Thursday's protests, several activists and opposition figures, including a politician who ran against Maduro in July were reportedly arrested.

- 'Wanted' -

Gonzales Urrutia this week met outgoing US President Joe Biden as well as members of President-elect Donald Trump's team.

He had at one point suggested flying back to Caracas to take power, without detailing his plan in the face of 'Wanted' posters circulated by the state putting a $100,000 bounty on his head.

With neither the charisma nor the flush oil revenues of his mentor Chavez, Maduro is accused of relying on brute force to hold on to power and of driving the economy into the ground.

His last re-election, in 2018, was also marred by fraud allegations.

Attempts by Trump to force Maduro out during his first term as US president by recognizing a parallel opposition-led government and imposing sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector, came to naught.

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K.AbuTaha--SF-PST