Sawt Falasteen - Opposition's Machado 'fearing for my life' after Venezuela election

The oil-rich Latin American nation was plunged into political crisis after Maduro was announced the victor of Sunday's election -- a result that defied pre-election polls and has drawn global criticism, leading to hundreds of arrests in deadly protests.

"I am writing this from hiding, fearing for my life, my freedom, and that of my fellow countrymen from the dictatorship led by Nicolas Maduro," said Machado in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal.

She reiterated her claim that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was the rightful winner, saying he won "67 percent to 30 percent" based on receipts obtained from most of the nation's polling stations.

Maduro has asked the Supreme Court to rule on the elections, saying he has evidence of his victory and was "ready to present 100 percent of the records."

"You have blood on your hands," Maduro said Wednesday, referring to Gonzalez Urrutia and Machado. "They should be behind bars."

Machado -- who was barred from running in the election by institutions loyal to Maduro -- said most opposition figures were now in hiding.

"I could be captured as I write these words," Machado wrote, calling for "those who reject authoritarianism and support democracy to join the Venezuelan people in our noble cause."

At least 20 people have died in protests that erupted after the election, according to Machado, while more than 1,000 have been jailed.

After days of anxiety that left streets largely deserted, normal life has begun to resume in the capital Caracas, with shops opening and public transport operating.

- Diplomatic row -

Venezuela has withdrawn diplomatic staff from eight critical Latin American countries and asked envoys from those nations to leave its territory.

Argentine President Javier Milei said his country's diplomatic staff had left Venezuela on Thursday and thanked Brazil for taking custody of its embassy.

Six Venezuelan opposition figures are currently under protection at the Argentine embassy.

Brazil's foreign ministry announced it was also taking over representation of Peru in Venezuela.

Peru recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's legitimate president on Tuesday, prompting Caracas to sever diplomatic ties.

Numerous nations, including Brazil and the United States, as well as the European Union, have demanded Venezuelan authorities release detailed voting data, with the White House warning Wednesday that the international community's patience was running out.

Brian Nichols, the top US diplomat for Latin America, said the polling results released by the opposition provided "irrefutable evidence" that Maduro lost "by millions of votes."

However, an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States on Wednesday failed to adopt a resolution calling for the detailed results to be released "immediately," with Colombia and Brazil notably abstaining.

- 'Bloodbath' -

Sunday's elections were held in the shadow of Maduro's warnings of a "bloodbath" if he were to lose, and amid widespread fear the vote would be rigged.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab said more than 1,000 people were arrested in protests that erupted on Monday and Tuesday in the wake of the election.

He also said one military officer was killed and 77 officials were injured.

Maduro has led the oil-rich country since 2013, presiding over a GDP drop of 80 percent that pushed more than seven million of once-wealthy Venezuela's 30 million citizens to emigrate.

He is accused of locking up critics and harassing opponents in a climate of rising authoritarianism.

Maduro's previous reelection, in 2018, was rejected as a sham by dozens of Latin American and other countries, including the United States and EU members.

Years of damaging US sanctions failed to dislodge the president, who enjoys loyalty from the military leadership, electoral bodies, courts and other state institutions, as well as the backing of Russia, China and Cuba.

A.AlHaj--SF-PST