The Venezuelan government says it is releasing 80 people detained during demonstrations as a Christmas goodwill gesture.
By Sunday morning 36 prisoners had been released, a local NGO said. About 150 further detainees remain in custody. It follows a request from Venezuela’s opposition to release those it described as “political prisoners”.
But President Nicolas Maduro says the activists have been jailed on legitimate charges.
On Thursday the regional trade group Mercosur also called for the prisoners to be released.
