BREAKING NEWS

Venezuela frees three jailed activists in post-talks gesture

Venezuela has freed three opposition activists jailed for more than a month in a first gesture by President Nicolas Maduro's government after talks began with his foes.
The socialist leader met opposition leaders at the weekend in talks convened by the Vatican, but they conditioned further dialog on the release of political prisoners and a national vote on Maduro's rule.
His adversaries accuse Maduro of creating a dictatorship by blocking a recall referendum on his rule and illegally overriding the legislature, which was taken over by the opposition in a landslide election last year.
Authorities freed the three activists - Carlos Melo, Andres Moreno and Marco Trejo - on Monday night, but the opposition says another 100 or so Maduro opponents remain in jail.