Venezuela protesters reach presidential palace

Family members of political prisoners in Venezuela marched through downtown Caracas on Friday and delivered a letter to the presidential palace demanding more releases.

About 100 demonstrators reached a police barricade near Miraflores palace before authorities stopped them. Two representatives were later received by a presidential palace delegation, which accepted the letter.

The protesters called on interim president Delcy Rodriguez to release additional prisoners. Rodriguez was not at the palace during the protest because she was on an official visit to Suriname.

Margareth Baduel, whose brother is serving a 30-year sentence on treason and terrorism charges, said the group wanted to deliver a document because Rodriguez had announced political prisoner releases that had not been carried out.

After talks between the ruling party and opposition figures last month, the Venezuelan presidency announced the release of 131 political prisoners. NGOs have confirmed around 80 releases and estimate that more than 300 people remain detained.

The protest came days before a planned second round of talks between the interim government and opposition figures over the post-Maduro transition.