Opposition headquarters raided by security forces in Venezuela

2014-02-18 99

A raid on the headquarters of Venezuela's opposition party Popular Will - with men caught on video waving guns and trying to break down a door.

This video cannot be independently verified by Reuters.

But Party officials say the armed men are military intelligence officers who tried to forcibly remove several activists.

A lawmaker from the party spoke out:

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAWMAKER JUAN GUAIDO FROM POPULAR WILL PARTY SAYING:

"This is a disregard for human rights, it is a disregard for all civil commissions: military institutions searching (the offices) of a political party."

Meanwhile, police fired tear gas at student protesters outside the opposition party's office.

An arrest warrant is out for Popular Will founder Leopoldo Lopez - The main instigator of anti-government protests that have swept Venezuela. At times, proving deadly.