- Title: Opposition leader Lopez rallies supporters from house arrest
- Date: 26th July 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (RECENT) (REUTERS) LOPEZ ON HIS BALCONY WAVING TO SUPPORTERS, WALKING INTO HIS HOUSE WITH WIFE LILIAN TINTORI WHO IS CARRYING THEIR DAUGHTER LOPEZ SUPPORTERS PAINTING MESSAGES OF SUPPORT ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE TINTORI HOLDING DAUGHTER ON BALCONY WAVING TO SUPPORTERS
- Embargoed: 9th August 2017 13:26
- Keywords: Leopoldo Lopez constituent assembly Nicolas Maduro Lilian Tintori
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036RCU1QF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez released on Tuesday (July 25) a message to his supporters, trying to rally them ahead of this weekend's government-backed election for a controversial super-congress.
Lopez was recently granted house arrest for his 14-year prison sentence for inciting violence in 2014's deadly clashes that erupted during protests against President Nicolas Maduro. He was allowed to go home after serving three years in the Ramo Verde prison.
On Tuesday he issued a video message where he called on National Guard troops to stand up to the Maduro administration and reiterated his commitment to the opposition effort, adding that "if that represents a risk to me of being returned to a cell in Ramo Verde [prison] or in any other prison of Venezuela, I am willing to take on this risk."
54-year-old Maduro insists Sunday's vote will go ahead despite intense pressure at home and abroad including a threat of U.S. economic sanctions. Maduro says the election for the 545-seat assembly, which will have power to rewrite the national constitution and override the current opposition-led legislature, is designed to put power in the hands or ordinary people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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