Venezuela has been hit by more violent protests this week after President Nicolas Maduro locked up the deputy of the opposition leader Juan Guaido in a military prison.
Edgar Zambrano, deputy speaker of the opposition-majority National Assembly, is being held in preventive detention for 'the flagrant commission of the crimes of treason, conspiracy and civil rebellion'.
Zambrano was arrested by Maduro's intelligence service in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday for supporting the April 30 revolt organized by US-backed opponent Guaido.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many have recognised as the country's rightful ruler, takes part in a rally against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas today
Opposition deputy Edgar Zambrano was detained by Venezuelan intelligence agents this week and has been locked up in a military prison
Maduro also accused his sacked intelligence chief General Christopher Figuera of being a CIA 'mole' and the architect of the failed military uprising.
He said General Figuera was 'the one who orchestrated the coup d'etat' by contacting the group of around 30 members of the armed forces who joined Guaido's mass demonstration.
Maduro said: 'He was captured by the CIA a year ago and was working as a traitor, mole and infiltrator.'
Figuera's defection to the opposition saw him rewarded earlier this week by the US by removing him from their sanctions list.
The latest regime actions ratcheted up tensions ahead of a national demonstration Guaido called for on Saturday to reject measures taken by the Supreme Court against opposition lawmakers.
Zambrano is one of 10 charged by the Supreme Court for participating in the April 30 movement.
Supporters of Juan Guaido take part in a rally in support of the Venezuelan National Assembly
President Nicolas Maduro (pictured) has accused his sacked intelligence chief General Christopher Figuera of being a CIA 'mole' and the architect of the failed military uprising
He was transferred to the Caracas headquarters of the military police, Fort Tiuna, the court said.
One of the other charged lawmakers, Luis Florido, announced in a video on Friday that he had fled to neighboring Colombia, 'sheltered from a regime that is willing to imprison deputies,' he said.
Three others - Richard Blanco, Mariela Magallanes and Americo De Grazia - have sought refuge in the Argentine and Italian embassies in Caracas.
Zambrano's lawyer Lilia Camejo denounced the procedure under which Zambrano, a civilian, was sent to a military prison, and said his rights had been violated.
Camejo said: 'From the moment of the arrest, they have violated the deputy's rights. We did not have access to the file, nor could we be appointed in his defense.'
Guaido today vowed to reject measures taken by the Supreme Court against opposition lawmakers
