Venezuela announces the release of 146 election protesters from prison

The Maduro government says it has released a total of 1,515 people detained during its post-election crackdown.

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab has announced the release of 146 protesters detained during anti-government protests following the July 28 presidential election.

Saab’s announcement on Monday brings the number of prisoners released by the government to 1,515.

It also comes mere days before President Nicolas Maduro is set to be sworn in for a controversial third term on Friday.

Maduro had been trailing his opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez in the lead-up to the July 28 vote. But within hours of the polls closing, his government announced he had won the race — without releasing the usual breakdown of the voting tallies.

That prompted outcry, with the opposition publishing voting sheets it claimed as proof that Gonzalez was the rightful winner.