Venezuela's former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said on Friday he sought diplomatic refuge after being told President Nicolas Maduro's security forces were coming for him. Gonzalez, whom the opposition insist was the real winner of a July election awarded to Maduro,

Edmundo González said the government made him sign a document recognizing President Nicolás Maduro as the election winner before he could flee to Spain.

Venezuela's former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez sought diplomatic refuge after being warned that President Nicolas Maduro's security forces were "coming for you", he told Reuters in Madrid

Edmundo González claims he was coerced into recognising President Nicolás Maduro's victory in disputed elections.

Gonzalez, whom the opposition insist was the real winner of a July election awarded to Maduro, told Reuters during an interview in Madrid he could have been jailed and possibly tortured had he stayed

Venezuela's former opposition candidate, Edmundo González, on Wednesday said he was coerced into signing a letter effectively recognizing his defeat in July's presidential election.

Venezuela's government "categorically" rejected a United Nations human rights report on Friday criticizing repression of political opponents and children in the wake of contested elections, saying it was a sign of coercion against the state.