Two French journalists were arrested in Venezuela while covering a demonstration of the opposition

Two French journalists arrested by Venezuelan authorities near the Miraflores presidential palace, in Caracas, confirmed Wednesday the AFP diplomatic sources.

Pierre Caillet and Monster's Baptist, reporters from & # 39; Daily & # 39; – a popular show on the TMC television channel – They recorded images around the building, the sources said.

"Two French journalists and their producer in the country, Rolando Rodríguez, They are detained at the Miraflores Palace as of noon "Tuesday, while they were covering a wake of support to President Nicolás Maduro, denounced to the same extent the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) of Venezuela.

"Since then, contact with them has been lost"added the union organization.

The Embbady of France confirmed the episode. "We confirm the arrest of two compatriots in Venezuela (…) Our Embbady has requested the exercise of consular protection in accordance with the Vienna Convention and, in particular, the right of access" , added diplomatic sources consulted by Reuters

On Tuesday evening, two journalists from Chilean TVN, Rodrigo Pérez and Gonzalo Barahona, were also arrested near Miraflores., as well as two Venezuelan communicators who accompanied them, Maikel Yriarte and Ana Rodríguez.

Yriarte and Rodríguez are released ten hours later, informed the SNTP, but the Chileans remain in detention.

Araos is the maximum representative of the diplomatic delegation, since PIñera withdrew her ambbadador when she ignored Maduro's mandate, arguing that his re-election in May 2018 was fraudulent.

Several foreign journalists have been arrested or deported in recent years by not having the necessary authorizations to carry on business in Venezuela.

The incidents occurred in the vestibule of Demonstrations demanded Wednesday by opposition leader Juan Guaidó, head of parliament and self-proclaimed interim president, calls on the armed forces to withdraw their support for Maduro.