Rights groups critical as Venezuela prisoner release scheme 'coming to an end'

Human rights groups in Venezuela have criticised interim President Delcy Rodríguez for saying a scheme to release political prisoners was "coming to an end", having been in place for just nine weeks. Nearly 500 political prisoners have been released under the amnesty law brought in by the country's National Assembly, prisoner rights group Foro Pena...

Human rights groups in Venezuela have criticised interim President Delcy Rodríguez for saying a scheme to release political prisoners was "coming to an end", having been in place for just nine weeks.

Nearly 500 political prisoners have been released under the amnesty law brought in by the country's National Assembly, prisoner rights group Foro Penal says, but many more are thought to still be in jail.

The group said Rodríguez lacked the power to end the releases, while watchdog Provea called the move "arbitrary and unconstitutional".

Despite being a lieutenant of former President Nicolás Maduro, Rodríguez has enjoyed the support of Donald Trump since US forces seized Maduro in January.