Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez will remain in custody pending further hearings, according to his lawyer.  Murder and terrorism charges have been dropped, but convictions on arson and conspiracy could put Lopez in prison for ten years.

But even though Lopez’ legal team welcomed the reduced charges, concerns are building on the outside. 

Amnesty International said the charges “smack of a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent in the country”.  And Human Rights Watch warned that Venezuela must avoid “scapegoating” political opponents.

However, evidence of a political purge dissipated as the judiciary announced that out of about 200 people who were detained during clashes in the past week, only 13 remain in jail – and those were for offenses that include illegal gun possession and vandalism.

And President Nicolas Maduro went on TV to show the bus driver who just trying to do his job when he was attacked and injured by opposition protesters who burned the bus.

Lopez, of the conservative opposition Popular Will party, turned himself over to police on Tuesday on charges of inciting violence following a wave of anti-government protests.  At least five people have died in the violence surrounding the anti-government protests he organized.