France denied on Friday that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido had taken refuge at any of its diplomatic sites in Caracas after the Venezuelan foreign minister said he was hiding in the French Embassy.

“Mr Juan Guaido is not at the French residence in Caracas,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement. “We have repeatedly confirmed this to the Venezuelan authorities.”

A French diplomatic source clarified that Guaido was not in any French sites in the South American country.

Earlier on Thursday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza told Union Radio that Guaido was in the French embassy and also accused Spain of harboring Leopoldo Lopez, another opponent of the government.

“It is shameful for Spanish diplomacy, it is shameful for the diplomacy of France what has happened, and they will pay the price very, very soon,” Arreaza said.

Source: Reuters