Venezuela to investigate opposition

Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced a criminal investigation into opposition leaders Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado for inciting the military to abandon support for President Nicolás Maduro. The investigation is linked to a letter from the duo urging security forces to respect the results of the contested July 28 elections, where Maduro claimed victory amid allegations of fraud. Saab accused them of falsely announcing election results and inciting disobedience among police and military officials, leading to charges of usurpation of functions and conspiracy. The opposition insists they won the election by a significant margin, contradicting the official results, which have yet to be substantiated with detailed voting tallies. Protests have erupted across Venezuela in response to the election outcome, with security forces reportedly targeting demonstrators. Western nations, including the U.S., are challenging the legitimacy of Maduro's government and calling for a full release of the election results.