Venezuelan prosecutor seeks probe into Guaido

By Muhammed Emin Canik</p> <p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AA) – Venezuela’s chief prosecutor asked the country’s top court Tuesday to launch an investigation against opposition leader Juan Guaido following recent violent clashes. </p> <p>Speaking to reporters, Attorney General Tarek Saab said he requested the Supreme Court to introduce preventive measures including banning Guaido from leaving the country and blocking financial accounts.</p> <p>Saab stated Guaido led violent incidents in the country and disturbed the public peace. </p> <p>His request came after the U.S. announced Tuesday it gave control of some Venezuelan assets to the opposition leader.</p> <p>The State Department confirmed the U.S. certified the authority of Guaido to receive control of certain assets held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any other U.S.-insured banks.</p> <p>The agency said assets would be moved in order to &quot;safeguard those assets for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against [President Nicolas] Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law,&quot; U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement released by the White House.</p> <p>The diversion of assets by the U.S. followed Guaido, head of the National Assembly, declared himself interim president last week.</p> <p>The U.S., Canada and many Latin American nations were quick to recognize Guaido's claim as Maduro quickly lashed out, calling on Washington to withdraw its diplomats from Venezuela.</p> <p>On Monday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA. The sanctions are expected to block $7 billion in assets and result in $11 billion of lost export revenue over the next year.</p> <p>The sanctions are also an attempt by Washington to disconnect Maduro from his petroleum revenue sources, of which Venezuela's economy relies heavily upon.</p> <p>