Venezuelan security forces have surrounded the Argentine embassy in the capital Caracas, which is sheltering six Venezuelan political figures opposed to President Nicolás Maduro.

Members of the Venezuelan opposition posted images and videos of officers from the country’s intelligence service forming a perimeter around the embassy complex. Opposition figures inside the building said they were under “siege” by Mr Maduro’s regime.

The embassy, as well as Argentine interests in Venezuela, have been represented by Brazil since diplomatic relations between Argentina and Venezuela broke down over the summer due to the outcome of Venezuela’s presidential election.

On Saturday, the Venezuelan government revoked Brazil’s custody of the embassy, it said, in an apparent attempt to remove its diplomatic protection.