Venezuela releases dozens of political prisoners as election calls grow

Image source, EPA Image caption, Prisoner releases and free elections were two key pledges made to the US by the new administration

Venezuelan authorities have released a slew of political prisoners, human rights groups say, days after the nation's interim leader met US President Donald Trump in New York.

Among those released in the early hours of Saturday morning was Wilder Vasquez, who was handed a five-year sentence in 2018 over claims he was plotting to kill former President Nicolás Maduro.

Opposition figures have renewed calls for free elections after interim President Delcy Rodriguez held talks with Trump, who captured Maduro earlier this year, at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Her administration previously released hundreds of prisoners as part of a reconciliation effort following Maduro's seizure.

However, these releases slowed to a trickle in April after Rodriguez said the scheme was "coming to an end".