Venezuela's best-known jailed opposition figure, Leopoldo Lopez, was jailed for 13 years on Thursday on charges of inciting 2014 anti-government protests that spiraled into violence killing more than 40 people.
After a marathon session at the heavily guarded Palace of Justice, judge Susana Barreiros ruled Lopez, 44, a US-educated hardline opponent of socialist President Nicolas Maduro arrested in February last year, had masterminded the violence.
He was ordered to return to the Ramo Verde military jail to serve a sentence of 13 years and nine months, his lawyer and supporters said.
Lopez's case has become a cause celebre for opposition supporters over what they deem the Maduro government's trampling of human rights. The US government, the United Nations and international rights groups had all called for Lopez's release.
"This is not only an attack on liberty and legality ... but also a provocation to the Venezuelan people," said Jesus Torrealba, leader of the opposition coalition which includes Lopez's Popular Will party.