Venezuela’s top court targets opposition leaders

Venezuela’s supreme court, the Supreme Tribunal, has said it asked the country’s Constituent Assembly, a pro-government legislative super body, to determine whether to open criminal proceedings against seven opposition politicians.

In a statement on Facebook, the court said on Tuesday that the assembly would determine if proceedings could be opened to investigate crimes including conspiracy, treason, and rebellion, without detailing which actions the politicians had taken that could be considered criminal.

The United States, who is actively seeking a change in government in Venezuela, imposed sanctions on dozens of Venezuelan officials in the past years.

US Vice President Mike Pence announced that those sanctions are not permanent in an attempt to lure members of the military to rebel against President Nicolas Maduro.