The extraordinary escape of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado from the grip of Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian regime to fly to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize involved months of planning,

They did not know where I was, where I was hiding in Venezuela. It was difficult for them to get me. It was rude nonetheless — and yes, we did receive support from the United States government, yes,” she continued.

María Corina Machado had been in hiding in Venezuela since January, when she was briefly detained after joining supporters in a protest in Caracas.

The US president, who was beaten to the Nobel Peace Prize by Venezuelan democracy campaigner Maria Corina Machado, was presented with Fifa’s hastily arranged new award