UN chief calls for 'all possible efforts' to ease Venezuela crisis

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged Venezuela's authorities to make "all possible efforts" to ease tensions and prevent further violence after two opposition leaders were sent back to prison, as the European Union also reacted against the move.

Guterres "has taken note" of the decision to revoke the house arrest for Leopoldo Lopez and Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma who were returned to jail, said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Aug. 1.

"In this critical moment for the future of the country, the secretary-general urges all Venezuelans, particularly those representing the powers of the state, to make all possible efforts to lower tensions, prevent further violence and loss of life, as well as find avenues for political dialogue," he added.

Venezuela's Supreme Court said in a statement that Lopez and Ledezma had violated the terms of their house arrest and that they had a plan to flee the country, claims that lawyers representing the pair denied.

The decision came before a new assembly elected on July 31 was due to take office with the task of rewriting the constitution, a plan that the opposition maintains will allow a slide toward authoritarianism.

The U.N. chief renewed his appeal for urgent political talks and said he supports regional mediation efforts along with those of international facilitators.  

The U.N.'s human rights chief also said Aug. 1 that he was "deeply concerned" by the re-arrests. 

"I am deeply concerned that opposition leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma have again been taken into custody by Venezuelan authorities," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said in a statement.  
   
The EU also criticized the arrest of the...