Venezuelans stage protest over political prisoners outside Vatican

Rosmit Mantilla, an elected deputy from the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD) and Llevan Rosa Orozco, mother of Geraldine Moreno (who died after being shot in the face with rubber bullets as security forces broke up an anti-government protest in Venezuela) shout slogans during a protest calling for the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro to order the release of political prisoners, in front of the Nunciature in Caracas, Venezuela December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, including the wife and mother of a jailed dissident leader, have begun a sit-in outside the Vatican demanding that the government free political prisoners.

Leopoldo Lopez has become a cause celebre among opposition supporters, who accuse Maduro of trampling human rights. The U.S. government, the United Nations and international rights groups have all called for Lopez's release.