A pair of prominent Senate Democrats said Friday they plan to introduce legislation targeting the "oppressive regime" of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro and his efforts to "steal" the July 28 election.

Venezuela's former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said on Friday he sought diplomatic refuge after being told President Nicolas Maduro's security forces were coming for him. Gonzalez, whom the opposition insist was the real winner of a July election awarded to Maduro,

Venezuela's exiled opposition leader Gonzalez says he was warned that security forces were coming for him:::: Madrid, Spain:: Edmundo Gonzalez, Venezuelan opposition leader:: "I had to be free to be able to do what I am doing,