Oslo appearance by Nobel peace prize winner called off

A press conference in Oslo with the Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado was cancelled yesterday, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said, adding that it was “in the dark” as to her whereabouts.

- Miranda Bryant Camille Rodriguez Montilla Oslo

Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leaderin hiding, last appeared in public on 9 January at a demonstration in Caracas protesting against the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro for his third term as president.

The press conference, traditionally held by the Nobel laureate on the eve ofthe award ceremony, had been expected to be the 58-year-old’s first public appearance in 11 months.

It was postponed hours before it was due to start, however, anda few hours later it was cancelled.

Aspokesperson for the Nobelinsti-tute said: “The press conference is cancelled for today and we have no further information about how and when she is coming”

Asked whether it might be rescheduled for today, they said: “I dor’tthink so, you never know... We are also in the dark.”