A Venezuelan opposition lawmaker sought refuge at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas on Thursday, according to an Argentine foreign ministry source and a Reuters witness, a day after the arrest of a top figure in the opposition-controlled legislature.

Richard Blanco of the Brave Peoples' Alliance party had entered the embassy on Thursday morning, said the Argentine official, who asked not to be identified. "He (Blanco) is there as a guest, we can confirm that," the official said.

On Wednesday, Edgar Zambrano, the opposition-run National Assembly's vice president, said he had been arrested by intelligence agents.