Venezuela strike leader arrested
Venezuela remains a deeply polarised country
An organiser of long-running protests against Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has been arrested on charges including treason and civil rebellion.
Carlos Fernandez was taken by members of the police intelligence service from a restaurant in the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to the BBC, Judge Mikel Moreno said he had issued a warrant for the arrest earlier that day.
At an urgent meeting following the arrest, Fedecamaras - the business association that Mr Fernandez leads - called on the government to guarantee his safety.
The development comes only days after the government and opposition signed a non-violence pact aimed at defusing tensions following strikes which virtually paralysed the country's oil industry.
It also follows Wednesday's killing of three soldiers who had called for civil disobedience against President Chavez.
The New York-based group, Human Rights Watch, has urged the Venezuelan Government to launch an investigation.
Unrest continues
Another Venezuelan opposition leader, Carlos Ortega, has told the BBC that a similar arrest warrant has been issued for him.
Chavez claims to have ended the strike
The two men were the main leaders of the two-month-long strike by businesses and trade unions against President Chavez.
The opposition have accused the president of authoritarianism and mismanaging the economy.
The strike slashed Venezuela's vital oil exports, crippling the country's economy.
President Chavez - who has strong support in the countryside and among the poor - claimed to have ended the strike at the beginning of the month, but the unrest and the demands for him to step down continue.