Top aide to Guaido accused of terrorist plot

A top aide to Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaido is facing terrorism charges after he was arrested by the Nicolas Maduro government.

Roberto Marrero, 49, chief of staff to the self-declared interim Venezuelan president, is accused of planning "acts of sabotage" against officials.

His bodyguard, Luis Paez, faces similar charges.

Venezuela's Interior Minister Nestor Reverol claimed yesterday that "weapons and foreign currency" were found by intelligence personnel during a raid on Marrero’s home on Thursday.

But Guaido, in his response, accused the security forces of committing an "illegal and unconstitutional act.

He says he believes that the items allegedly found at his chief of staff’s home had been planted there and called for Marrero's immediate release.

Guaido describes his aide's detention as a "vile, vulgar kidnapping."

However, Reverol says Marrero was arrested as part of an operation to dismantle a "terrorist cell" allegedly planning attacks on the government.

Guaido, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president on January 23, charging that Maduro's re-election last May was illegitimate.

He told reporters during a press conference on Thursday that Marrero's arrest "won't make us deviate from the path we are on" and asked Venezuelans to "stay united and mobilised.”

Marrero's arrest has also triggered international condemnation, with the United States (US), the European Union and Latin American nations all demanding his immediate release.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton were among those to denounce Marrero's pre-dawn arrest at his Caracas home.

In a message posted on Twitter, Bolton said:“Maduro has made another big mistake. The illegitimate arrest of Roberto Marrero, Interim President Juan Guaido's aide, will not go unanswered.”

“He should be released immediately and his safety guaranteed," Bolton demanded.

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