Venezuela opposition leader jailed for 13 years

Venezuela’s best-known jailed opposition figure, Leopoldo Lopez, was jailed for 13 years on Thursday  on charges of inciting 2014 anti-government protests that spiralled into violence killing more than 40 people.

After a marathon session at the heavily guarded Palace of Justice, judge Susana Barreiros ruled Lopez, a U.S.-educated hardline opponent of socialist President Nicolas Maduro arrested in February last year, had masterminded the violence.

The 44-year-old was ordered to return to the Ramo Verde military jail to serve a sentence of 13 years and nine months, his lawyer and supporters said.

Lopez’s case has become a cause celebre for opposition supporters over what they deem the Maduro government’s trampling of human rights. The U.S. government, the United Nations and international rights groups had all called for Lopez’s release.

For years, Lopez has been one of the most prominent hardline figures in Venezuela’s opposition. He was a successful and popular mayor of the Chacao district of Caracas until 2008.