Warrants have been issued for the arrest of 14 Venezuelan politicians accused of trying to sabotage last Sunday’s referendum over the country’s claim to the Essequibo region.

According to a report by BBC News, the politicians have close links to opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado.

Attorney-General Tarek William Saab claims they tried to sabotage the referendum in which the majority of those who voted backed the government’s position on Essequibo.

However, government critics have raised questions about the turnout.

Essequibo is an oil-rich area administered by Guyana.

However, Venezuela has claimed that an 1899 decision made by an international tribunal, awarding the area to what was then known as British Guiana, was unfair.