A group of Venezuelan opposition figures has asked the International Criminal Court to probe the country's leader Nicolas Maduro and other officials for "crimes against humanity", exiled dissident Carlos Vecchio said Wednesday in Madrid.
"Yesterday we formally presented a request for the court to open a preliminary inquiry into high-ranking officials, especially Maduro, because we consider that they have committed crimes against humanity," he told reporters in the Spanish capital - a move confirmed by an ICC source.
"We are faced with a case of crimes...that involve murders, torture, illegal detentions, persecution, inhuman treatment," said Vecchio, the coordinator of opposition party Popular Will whose leader Leopoldo Lopez is in prison.