(25 Jan 2015) Venezuelan authorities blocked two former Latin American presidents from visiting jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on Sunday.
Andres Pastrana of Colombia and Sebastian Pinera of Chile travelled to Caracas this weekend to participate in a pro-democracy event organised by President Nicolas Maduro's opponents.
As part of their visit, the two conservative leaders on Sunday tried to visit Lopez in a military prison where he's been held for the past 11 months.
The a 43-year-old Harvard graduate is accused of inciting violent protests in early 2014, which could lead to 13-year prison term.
Lopez has become Venezuela's most popular politician as well as a human-rights icon drawing international pressure on the government.
The former Latin American leaders were informed by prison guards that their visit the prison wasn't authorised.
Pastrana said Lopez's basic human rights to receive visit from friends and family was being denied.
Maduro on Friday accused the former presidents of having "blood on their hands" for allegedly supporting extremist groups trying to oust him.
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