US police move to eject pro-Maduro activists from Venezuela embassy

WASHINGTON: US police acted Monday night to remove Americans who have been occupying the Venezuelan embassy in Washington in a bid to prevent the entry of a representative of opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The administration of President Donald Trump and some 50 other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate acting leader as he tries to force the departure of President Nicolas Maduro amid an acute economic meltdown. "The authorities have made their move," Rafael Alfonso, a member of the delegation of Carlos Vecchio, Guaido's designated representative in the US, told AFP. Police with flashlights took up positions at the gate of the compound, which was closed with chains and locks. They spoke with activists inside and with Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, an attorney with the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund who was negotiating with the agents. After five minutes, police returned to seal the door and the activists returned to the second floor. "They are defending international law, defending the Vienna Convention and are worried about a domino effect," the lawyer said about the activists.