The U.S. government increased the rewards Friday for the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and his number two, Diosdado Cabello, to $25 million each, minutes after it said the dictator was “fraudulently” sworn in for a third presidential term.

Maduro’s inauguration seals an election outcome that opposition politicians and the US government say was stolen.

The Biden administration has issued significant rewards for top Venezuelan officials, citing crimes like drug trafficking and undermining democracy.

Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, who won about 67 percent of the votes in July compared to 30 percent for Maduro, mounted a successful international tour prior to the inauguration, with stops at regional capitals as well as in Washington,

Venezuelans once again watched as Nicolás Maduro was sworn into office on Friday, donning the executive sash and declaring himself president despite irregularities and questions around his election.

The United States will also extend temporary protections for roughly 600,000 Venezuelan migrants in the United States.

Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third presidential term on Friday, despite overwhelming evidence that he lost July’s presidential election to opposition leader Edmundo González,

Fearing that opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez will return to Venezuela this week as promised, strongman Nicolás Maduro has mobilized the country’s military, sending soldiers to patrol the streets in major cities and carrying out new arrests of opponents or individuals he calls mercenaries.

Yesterday, opposition leader María Corina Machado posted a video on social media saying the moment was not right for his return. Recorded in hiding, she promised: “Edmundo will come to Venezuela to be sworn in as constitutional president of Venezuela at the right time.”

President-elect Donald Trump says Venezuela's embattled opposition leader must be protected as President Nicolas Maduro takes the oath of office for a third six-year term.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in Friday for a new term ... $25 million a reward for the arrest of Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello to face drug trafficking charges in the U.S., and placed a new ...

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters on his ... Justice, and Peace Diosdado Cabello, as well as adding a new reward of up to $15 million for Maduro’s named Defense Minister ...