The dictator Nicolás Maduro accused the former head of the intelligence services of Venezuela of having led the uprising against him

The dictator of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro on Friday accused his former chief intelligence officer of being a "mole" of the CIA who coordinated a failed military rebellion in Venezuela, by which the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Edgar Zambrano, He was sent to a military prison.

The General Division Cristopher Figuera "for more than a year, he had been captured by the CIA and had worked as a traitor, mole, infiltrator", Maduro launched, on April 30, in full campaign of retaliation against those involved in the uprising, including ten opposition MPs.

According to the president, Figuera was "who articulated the coup d'etat", contacting the group of soldiers who rebelled to support the House leader Juan Guaidó, recognized as president in charge of the oil country by half a hundred governments.

In a decree previously published in the Official Journal, Maduro ordered the dismissal of Figuera and 55 other officers of the armed forces.

The first confirmation of the participation of the former director of intelligence services (Sebin) arrived from Washington. Tuesday, the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence announced that the sanctions against him were canceled to reward support for the rebellion.

Maduro's accusations occur on the eve of protests organized by Guaidó across the country. recover the initiative after the failure of the insurgency and during an offensive against deputies who leaves one legislator of prisoners, three refugees in diplomatic offices and another fled to Colombia.

ZambranoArrested Wednesday as part of an unusual operation including towing his vehicle to the Sebin barracks, He was admitted to Fort Tiuna, the largest military complex in Caracas, reported Friday the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ).

A court of competent jurisdiction in the field of terrorism "Judicial measure dictated deprivation of liberty (…) for the flagrant commission of crimes of treason, conspiracy and (and) civil rebellion", says in a statement the maximum court, official line.

Ten deputies were charged by the TSJ for the uprising, which led to riots that killed six people.

A day after warning of a "Dismantling Parliament"Guaidó, the only power controlled by the opposition, denounced Friday with photos on Twitter that the deputies and other opponents of Maduro carried threatening messages. "We are going for you, Luis Florido", one of them is read.

While Zambrano's family said they could not talk to him, his lawyer, Lilia Camejo, asked if he had been sent to a military prison as a civilian: "They violated their rights."

Other opponents ended up in military jailsthe most iconic of them Leopoldo López, lHe was released from house arrest during the uprising and was detained at Ramo Verde Military Prison.

Zambrano is subject to "military justice"but "was not armed nor commanded," AFP constitutional lawyer Juan Manuel Raffalli told AFP. His "natural judge" is "civilian", he said.

The attack against the legislature was condemned by the European Union, the Lima group and United States, the main defender of Guaidó.

As part of its policy of pressure against Maduro, in which it does not exclude the military option, theCasa Blanca on Friday punished two other companies and two ships for sending Venezuelan crude to Cuba, in retaliation for the arrest of Zambrano.

Saturday's event will measure the support with which Guaidó continues to count, a 35-year-old industrial engineer who since January has conducted numerous demonstrations.

The Maduro regime, which has repeated again and again, has the loyalty of the armed forces, announced Friday the reopening of borders with Brazil and Aruba, closed since February to prevent an operation designed by Guaidó to enter the humanitarian aid of neighboring countries.

However, he closed the borders with Colombia, Curacao and Bonaire.

While the power struggle between Maduro and Guaidó reaches three and a half months, Venezuelans' daily lives continue to be ruled by socio-economic crisis, with hyperinflation, drug shortage and power outages.

"It is likely that the status quo will be maintained", with a Maduro "more isolated than ever" but without his rivals showing the strength to expel him, he Moisés Rendón, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

"What can happen next is very uncertain. (…) The international community will wonder if it should return to seek a dialogue in the perspective of hold elections with Maduro in power "Rendón added.

(With information from AFP)