Venezuela opposition aims to unblock congress deadlock

Deputy of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD) Julio Ygarza (C) talks to the media upon his arrival to a meeting at the Supreme Court in Caracas January 13, 2016. REUTERS/Marco Bello

CARACAS (Reuters) - Three Venezuelan opposition lawmakers gave up their seats on Wednesday to try to defuse an acrimonious power dispute between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the newly opposition-led National Assembly.

Venezuela's Supreme Court had barred the three - plus a government legislator - from office pending a probe into alleged vote cheating in their jungle state Amazonas.