Nicolas maduro
Activists claim Venezuela police 'massacre' killed 23 people
Authorities haven't commented on the incident, which Alvarado called a "massacre."
The boycott by the main opposition parties meant there was no doubt of victory for Maduro's ruling Socialist Party, giving it control of an expanded 227-seat National Assembly -- the only institution not in its hands.
Victory will give Maduro's ruling Socialist Party control of the National Assembly, the only institution not yet in its hands.
The target of US sanctions aiming to force him from power, Maduro broke off diplomatic relations with Washington in January 2019, after President Donald Trump's administration - along with around 60 other countries - recognised Guaido as Venezuela's president.
The message came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a South American tour that will take him to the Brazilian-Venezuelan border Friday for an event also seen as upping the pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
A team tasked with probing a slew of alleged violations said they had found evidence that state actors, including President Nicolas Maduro, were behind serious crimes such as extrajudicial killings and the systematic use of torture.
Luke Alexander Denman (34) and Airan Berry (40), 'admitted' to 'conspiracy, association (to commit crimes), illicit trafficking of war weapons and terrorism' over the attempted invasion, allegedly aimed at toppling President Nicolas Maduro.
Luke Alexander Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, were among 17 people captured by the Venezuelan military who said they thwarted an attempted invasion by mercenaries in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The indictments were issued in multiple US jurisdictions including New York and Miami, with charges running from 'conspiracy to narco-terrorism' to money laundering.
Shortly before his arrival, fighting broke out between his followers - including several lawmakers - and President Nicolas Maduro's supporters.
Guaido, self-appointed acting president of Venezuela, leads the opposition to leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who remains in power despite Guaido's year-long effort to oust the man he calls a 'usurper'.
The National Assembly speaker is set to be re-elected to his position on Sunday, but it is the top job currently occupied by socialist leader Nicolas Maduro that he's after.
The official currency, the bolivar, has depreciated more than 90% this year, while hyperinflation in the first nine months of the year clocked in at 4,680%, according to the central bank.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Donald Trump assailed Venezuela's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro, as 'a Cuban puppet, protected by Cuban bodyguards.'
The talks, most of which had taken place on the Caribbean island of Barbados, began after opposition leader Juan Guaido led a failed military uprising in April against Maduro.
Elections to renew the National Assembly, the only branch of government under opposition control, are set for December 2020.
Any move to disband congress would fuel criticism of President Nicolas Maduro in the international community and almost certainly halt Norway-brokered talks between the government and opposition leader Juan Guaido's allies.
The scope of the announcement came as a surprise even to some Trump administration allies.
Representatives of President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido met from Monday to Wednesday in the Caribbean island nation for negotiations, which Maduro has hailed as successful.