Spain won’t hand over fugitive Venezuelan

Spain’s acting foreign minister has declared a Venezuelan anti- government activist as a guest at the Spanish Embassy in Caracas, saying the body cannot be turned into a centre of political activities.

Leo pol do Lopez–a prominent opponent of president Nicolas Maduro – spoke at the gate of the Spanish ambassador’s home in the Venezuelan capital and urged people to support opposition leader Juan Guaido.

That brought a rebuke from a Venezuelan diplomat and deepened political tensions between Caracas and Madrid, which has urged Mr Maduro to allow fresh elections. Thousands of Venezuelans have fled the crisis in their country for Spain. During a visit to the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Minister Josep Borrell said of Mr Lopez: “He is a guest and was received as a guest.

Mr Borrell added: “We can’t permit that the Spanish embassy be the centre of political activities in Venezuela.” Venezuela’s top court has ordered Mr Lopez’s arrest.