CARACAS - Political leaders and ministers from several countries voiced criticism on Tuesday regarding the arrest warrant issued against Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia late Monday night. The United States described it as an example of how Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is using force to cling to power. In a joint statement, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay condemned the warrant. 

Maduro declared himself the winner of the presidential elections held at the end of July, a result that many countries do not recognize. The opposition, which was leading in the polls, released its own election results indicating that González Urrutia had won. On Monday, an arrest warrant was issued against him.