CARACAS, Sept 3 (v7n)- Venezuela's attorney general's office announced on Monday that a court has issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes amid a contentious dispute over the results of the July 28 election.

Attorney General Tarek Saab shared the warrant via a photo on the messaging app Telegram. This development marks a significant escalation in President Nicolas Maduro's government's crackdown on opposition figures following the disputed election, where the national electoral authority declared Maduro the winner with just over half of the votes, while opposition tallies suggest a decisive victory for Gonzalez.

The warrant comes after weeks of escalating rhetoric from government officials, who have called for Gonzalez and other opposition members to face imprisonment. Maduro publicly criticized Gonzalez, stating, "This man has the nerve to say he doesn't recognize laws," emphasizing the government's stance on maintaining order and legality. The opposition, along with various international observers, has condemned the election process as lacking transparency and has demanded the release of complete voting tallies, alleging electoral fraud.

In the wake of the election, protests erupted, leading to significant unrest, with reports of at least 27 deaths and around 2,400 arrests. Gonzalez, who is 75 years old, has ignored multiple summons to testify regarding an opposition website that published detailed election results, which has contributed to the warrant's issuance.

The Venezuelan government has intensified its crackdown on dissent, with Saab also launching investigations into other opposition leaders and the website itself. As tensions rise, the situation remains precarious for both the opposition and the Maduro administration.