Venezuelan police have launched a search for collaborators following the arrest of authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro by US special forces, according to a decree declaring a state of emergency.
The decree, which came into force on Saturday but was made public in full on Monday, said all police units at the federal, state, and municipal levels had been instructed to look for individuals who supported the US operation.
Earlier, several US media outlets reported that the US military appeared to have received assistance on the ground during the operation.
According to the reports, one person within Mr Maduro’s close circle is alleged to have continually passed on information about his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s journalists’ union, the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), said 14 reporters had been detained in the interim.
The organisation later said all journalists had since been released.
Reports of gunfire near presidential palace
Meanwhile, heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace in Caracas days after the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to posts circulating on social media.
Videos shared online on Monday showed armoured security vehicles in the streets near the Miraflores presidential palace, while gunshots could be heard.
The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear.
Venezuela is home to a range of armed groups, including criminal organisations and pro-government paramilitaries known as colectivos.
Shootings are not uncommon in some neighbourhoods of the capital.
ALSO READ: UN Security Council divided over US attack on Venezuela, Maduro’s capture
Early Saturday, the US attacked targets in Venezuela, captured Mr Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and took them out of the country.
The couple appeared in a New York court on Monday to face charges related to alleged drug offences.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president on Monday.
The political future of the oil-rich country remains uncertain.(dpa/NAN)
