A NUMBER of masked assailants reportedly ransacked the headquarters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in the early hours of this morning.

No evidence has come to light about who was behind the raid, which came as tensions continue to rise following Sunday’s presidential elections, of which incumbent Nicholas Maduro was declared the winner earlier this week.

Ms Machado’s party said that the assailants had broken down doors and hauled away valuable documents and equipment. It published images on social media showing several walls covered in black spray paint.

Washington has already decided that the main opposition candidate won the election.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “It is clear to the US and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election.”

But Mr Maduro hit back, saying: “The US should get its nose out of Venezuela because the sovereign people are the ones who rule in Venezuela, who dictate, who decide.”

He denounced Mr Gonzalez as “a murderer and CIA agent” who has been chosen by the US government as the new Juan Guaido.

Former congressman Mr Guaido proclaimed himself president in 2019, a claim recognised by the US administration of Donald Trump.

Mr Maduro said: “Guaido Part 1 failed. He harmed the country, and we were very patient with Guaido Part 1. Now the US comes out and says that Venezuela has another president. 

“They want to impose Guaido Part 2, but the second and third parts were worse. I’ve already seen that movie and I know how it ends and part two is better, because it ends faster. We already know everything and we ran out of patience for this second movie.”

The electoral chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice summoned the 10 presidential candidates to appear before them today to begin the process of investigation, review and certification of the electoral process and its results.

Mr Maduro confirmed that he would attend “without fail,” adding that “I hope that all the candidates go.

“I submit to the law, to the institutions, to justice,” because “only through the law, through institutions, can peace and democracy be consolidated, as we all Venezuelans want.”

He said that he had told supreme court president Caryslia Beatriz Rodriguez that his coalition and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela have “100 per cent of the electoral records” and would provide them on request.