Thursday, March 31, 2016

Venezuelan president calls for national debate over controversial amnesty law

CARACAS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday called for a national debate over an amnesty law approved by the Congress that gives amnesty to activists who the opposition considers as political prisoners.

"They approved a law, which has never been approved in the country before. They call it amnesty but it is the most criminal law ever approved in Venezuela," he said.

Venezuela's opposition-controlled Congress late on Tuesday approved an amnesty law to free jailed opposition activists and ended legal proceedings against others, which will be sent to Maduro for his approval or veto.

Maduro has made it clear that he will reject the law and ask the Supreme Court to rule on whether it is constitutional .... http://news.xinhuanet.com