Venezuela's government has started freeing detainees considered by rights groups as political prisoners, in what officials have referred to as a goodwill gesture. US president Donald Trump said the move came at the request of the United States.

Venezuela's government has started freeing detainees considered by rights groups as political prisoners, in what officials have referred to as a goodwill gesture. US president Donald Trump said the move came at the request of the United States.

Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Venezuela's government has begun to release Venezuelan and foreign political prisoners, less than a week after its former head, Nicolas Maduro, was seized in a U.S. military operation.

The US, which recently captured its President Nicolás Maduro, has long demanded the detainees be freed.

The release, which was expected to happen later on Thursday, offers the first gesture of conciliation under an interim government, even as arrests and crackdowns continue.

The interim government released some prisoners under pressure from the Trump administration, even as it continued arrests and crackdowns elsewhere.

At least 80 people were released, including one with U.S. ties, though more than 800 remain detained in Venezuela for opposing President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, rights groups say.

At least 80 people were released, including one with U.S. ties, though more than 800 remain detained in Venezuela for opposing President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, rights groups say.