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Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaidó's chief of staff detained
Venezuelan intelligence agents have detained a senior aide to opposition leader Juan Guaidó after a raid on his Caracas home, say legislators.
Damage at Mr Marrero's residence in Caracas.
Maduro may have crossed the intervention Rubicon if Mr. Marrero is returned as a corpse.
Related: Citigroup to sell more than $1B in Venezuelan gold in blow to Maduro regime, reports say
Venezuelan intelligence agents have detained a senior aide to opposition leader Juan Guaidó after a raid on his Caracas home, say legislators.
Damage at Mr Marrero's residence in Caracas.
3/21/19
Mr Guaidó has demanded the immediate release of his chief of staff Roberto Marrero, whose whereabouts are unknown. The nearby home of opposition legislator Sergio Vergara was also raided. He was briefly detained. The operation could signal a crackdown on the opposition by embattled President Nicolás Maduro, analysts say. On Twitter, he said Mr Marrero had been "kidnapped" and that "two rifles and a grenade had been planted" at his aide's home during the raid at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT). US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the raid and called for Mr Marrero's immediate release. "We will hold accountable those involved," he said on Twitter. Mr Vergara, who lives in the same building, said more than 40 heavily armed officers from intelligence agency Sebin took part in the raids on the two apartments. Mr Vergara added that his driver had also been detained. Venezuela's information ministry has not commented. Mr Marrero is Mr Guaidó's main political adviser and his detention is likely to raise tensions both within Venezuela and internationally.
Maduro may have crossed the intervention Rubicon if Mr. Marrero is returned as a corpse.
Related: Citigroup to sell more than $1B in Venezuelan gold in blow to Maduro regime, reports say