Venezuelan intelligence officials arrested two more judges appointed by the opposition-run parliament that is in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro's government Tuesday.
Jesus Rojas Torres and Zuleima Gonzalez were the second and third opposition-appointed judges arrested by Maduro's government. Judge Angel Zerpa was arrested Saturday.
Maduro had threatened to arrest the judges in a televised speech over the weekend, during which he also verbally attacked U.S. President Donald Trump and several Latin American leaders for their statements against Maduro's plan to rewrite the constitution.
"The imperial right wing believes it can give orders to Venezuela," Maduro said, "The only ones who give orders here are the people. This time next week [on Sunday, July 30] Venezuelans will be voting for a Constituent Assembly."
Venezuela's opposition has announced a two-day national strike this week aimed at pressuring Maduro to cancel the controversial July 30 vote on the creation of a the body that will be charged with rewriting the country's constitution.
"We are calling out the entire people, all groups in society, for a 48-hour strike" on Wednesday and Thursday, lawmaker Simon Calzadilla said.
Calzadilla said a protest march on Friday, following the strike, will demand that Maduro officially scrap the vote.
