Pro-government militias attack opposition politicians after storming Venezuela’s congress

Pro-government militias attacked opposition politicians with wooden sticks and metal bars after storming Venezuela’s congress building.

Four deputies were injured with one, Americo de Grazia, removed on a stretcher suffering convulsions.

A bloodied Armando Arias said from inside an ambulance: “This doesn’t hurt as much as watching how every day we lose a little bit more of our country.”

The unprecedented attack, in plain view of national guardsmen assigned to protect the legislature, comes amid three months of violent confrontations between security forces and protesters who accuse the government of trying to establish a dictatorship by jailing foes, pushing aside the opposition-controlled legislature and rewriting the constitution to avoid fair elections.

Tensions were already high after Vice President Tareck El Aissami made an unannounced visit to the National Assembly.

After he left, dozens of government supporters invaded the legislature.

The siege was only lifted after seven hours.