Ex-lawmaker faces charge for plotting Venezualan president's murder

Former Venezuelan lawmaker Maria Corina Machado will be charged for her involvement in an assassination plot against President Nicolas Maduro.

One of Maduro's fiercest adversaries, Machado was accused of "crimes against national security and independence", which could land her in a Venezuelan prison for at least 10 years, Xinhua reported citing a statement issued by the Attorney General's office Wednesday.

The plot was unveiled by the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) in May.

Government authorities showed several emails allegedly written by Machado, through which she planned with other exiled colleagues to "wipe out" Maduro and promote a coup.

Elected to Congress in 2010, she was a divisive figure within the Venezuelan opposition for having organised mass street protests, known as "The Exit" in Feb, just two months after the government prevailed in mayoral elections.

In March, she was dismissed from her post after accepting the role of alternate ambassador of Panama in the Organisation of American States (OAS).

She was barred in June from leaving Venezuela just before being questioned in the case.

She must appear before National Prosecutor Katherine Harrington Dec 3, the Attorney General's office said in the statement.