Presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has arrived in Spain where he has been granted political asylum. Venezuela has been in political turmoil since July after an election where Nicolas Maduro declared himself the winner. We hear from Antonio Ledezma, another Venezuelan opposition politician already in exile in Spain. Also in the programme: the legacy of Herbie Flowers who has died at 86 and played with Elton John, David Bowie and Paul McCartney; and Paris has hosted the closing ceremony of the Paralympics. (Photo: Supporters of Edmundo Gonzalez wait for his arrival in Madrid. Credit: BORJA SANCHEZ-TRILLO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Hello and welcome to the programme.
You're tuned to Newshour on the BBC World Service.
We're coming to you live from London.
My name's Paul Henley.
First today, the leader of Venezuela's political opposition arrived in Spain tonight, having been offered asylum by Madrid.
Edmundo Gonzalez had been in hiding in his home country, ignoring various summons to appear before prosecutors, arguing that turning up would have cost him his freedom.
Back in Venezuela, the attorney general Tarek William Saab confirmed Mister Gonzalez exit from the country had been allowed.
After careful negotiation, the governments of Spain and Venezuela agreed to grant a safe conduct to the citizen Edmundo Gonzalez so that he could leave his national territory and benefit from the asylum granted by Spain.
Consequently, the attorney general's office expresses its absolute respect for the decisions of the venezuelan government.
A spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, demanded a political solution to the crisis in Venezuela.
And of course, the fact that a political leader has to request asylum is certainly bad news.
What Spain wants, and we have said it on many occasions and very clearly since July 29, is that the results of the polls be respected and that of course the freedom of demonstration, the freedom of expression and the political rights of all Venezuelans should be respected.
What I would like is that Edmundo Gonzalez would never have had to ask for the protection of the spanish embassy.
Spain will not turn its back on him and the government of Spain will not turn its back on any venezuelan.
We are going to stand by the venezuelan people and democracy in Venezuela.
Venezuela has been in political turmoil since July when Nicolas Maduro declared himself the victor of elections.
The US, the European Union and numerous latin american countries have refused to accept the result of elections.
It still hasnt been backed up by any convincing data.
Antonio Ledesma is another leading venezuelan opposition politician already in exile in Spain.
Hes a former mayor of Caracas and is now international coordinator of the political movement still led by Maria Corinna Machado, who was barred from running for president and who is in hiding in the venezuelan capital.