CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's top aide was taken away in the middle of the night by masked intelligence agents who broke down his door early Thursday, drawing condemnation from the United States and other countries pushing to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
Washington demanded the immediate release of Guaido's chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, whose whereabouts after the raid on his Caracas home were not immediately disclosed.
Marrero was detained as part of an operation against a "terrorist" cell conspiring against the Venezuelan government, Interior Minister Nestor Luis Reverol said on national television. Weapons were confiscated from Marrero, and a bodyguard also was arrested, according to Reverol.
Guaido's top aide is being investigated over purported crimes including a plot to kill Maduro, the chief prosecutor's office said.
Maduro indicated there could be more arrests, saying on national television that his government is dismantling a broader "terrorist" network.
Guaido characterized the operation as a sign that Maduro is losing his grip on power in a country suffering from years of economic hardship and political polarization.
"Either he doesn't dare to jail me, or he's not in charge," Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, said during an appearance at a school. He also said some Venezuelan intelligence chiefs called him to say they weren't involved, in what would suggest a split in their ranks.
The United Nations expressed "concern" about Marrero's detention and renewed a call "to lower tensions and refrain from any action that could lead to further escalation," while U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: "We will hold accountable those involved."
Guaido contends that he is the rightful leader of Venezuela and that Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate because major opposition figures were not allowed to run. The U.S. and about 50 other countries have sided with Guaido, and Washington has imposed sanctions to try to push Maduro from power. The U.S. had warned the Maduro government not to act against Guaido.
In Washington, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said he believes Maduro's government is concerned about the international reaction if it tried to arrest Guaido and instead may be targeting Guaido's aides.
He repeated Trump's statement that "all options are on the table," but said "we're not thinking" about a military option at this time.
The Lima Group, an association of about a dozen Latin American countries and Canada, also condemned Marrero's detention.
Marrero reported the raid in a recorded telephone call. As he described how a large number of intelligence officials were entering his home, heavy thuds could be heard.
The neighboring home of another opposition lawmaker, Sergio Vergara, was searched. Vergara said he was woken up by heavy banging at his door and that agents pointed weapons at him.
Venezuelan prosecutors say Guaido is under investigation for alleged links to violence as well as the nation's severe power failures. Maduro alleges the blackouts were caused by U.S.-directed sabotage, while American officials and the Venezuelan opposition blame mismanagement and corruption.
Information for this article was contributed by Luis Alonso of The Associated Press.
A Section on 03/22/2019