Venezuela’s ex-oil minister charged with stealing millions from state oil company

Tareck El Aissami latest in purge of politicians, human rights advocates and critics by government of Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela's former oil minister Tareck El Aissami - once one of President Nicolas Maduro's closest allies - has been arrested for allegedly participating in an international scheme that syphoned off hundreds of millions of dollars from the country's state oil company.

The charges against El Aissami are part of a wider government purge that has so far led to charges being brought against more than 50 people, including some of Venezuela's most important political and business figures.