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Authorities served an eviction notice Monday to activists who have stayed for more than a month inside the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington and asked them to leave immediately.
The activists have been inside the embassy because they consider Nicolas Maduro the legitimate president of Venezuela . The US and 50 other countries say Mr Maduro's re-election was fraudulent and have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.
Gustavo Tarre , Venezuela's representative to the Organization of American States, told The Associated Press that after the eviction notice was served, three activists left the building. Four remained, Mr Tarre said.
Brian Becker, national director of the Answer Coalition, which supports the activists, said those still inside the building will not leave voluntarily. He said police cut the chains that were locking the front gate and handed the order to activists who came to the ground level to meet them.
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaosShow all 24 1 /24Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Children play while attending a birthday party celebration at Catia neighbourhood
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Anderson Rodriguez trains on a slackline at a National Circus of Venezuela venue in Caracas
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Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A child climbs on a bike to see an amusement park with an illuminated ferris wheel in Caracas
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Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Andrew rides a small tricycle on the rooftop of his family house in Caracas's Catia neighbourhood
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A child reacts next to members of a folk group dressed as devils while taking part in the celebration of Los Palmeros de Chacao, a Holy Week tradition, in Caracas
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Members of Family Rose softball team put their hands together before a match at Lecuna Avenue softball pitch in Caracas. "After the game we always had a few beers. But now they are too expensive," said Felix Babaza
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Oriana Contreras and her niece ride a roller coaster at Italo Americano amusement park in Caracas. Contreras said, "Sometimes, the quotidian things bore, more the situation which we are going through. We try to have fun with what we can."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Members of a folk group take part in the celebration of Palmeros de Chacao
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A bird is seen inside a cage in front of the beach at La Guaira near Caracas
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Leonel Martinez, who works as soldier, kisses his girlfriend as they spend a day at Coral beach in La Guaira. "It's a way to think about something besides what is happening in the country," said Martinez. "It's not something you can do every day, because of the situation in the country."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A young boy practices on a unicycle while hula hooping at the Teresa Carreno theatre area where friends meet to practice in Caracas
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Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Ana Gabriela Alzola and Deniali Vega pose for a photograph at a backdrop used by customers to take pictures inside a mall in Caracas
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Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Carmelo Gonzalez dances salsa at El Venezolano square where he meets a seniors club every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Caracas. Gonzalez said, "I have fun and I work. The pension helps me a bit. You have to enjoy life, after you die there is nothing else."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Children pose for a photograph on a disused tank displayed at Los Proceres boulevard in Caracas
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A boy flies a homemade kite next to Gran Mision Vivienda housing project in Caracas. The children make their own kites using a plastic bag, sticks and a nylon line. "Most expensive is the nylon cone, which is 10 thousand Bolivar notes (approximately 3 US dollars)," said Luis Flores
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Arianny Itriago sits during her quinceanera (15th birthday celebration) at Catia neighbourhood. Arianny's father, Ronny, said, "It's a family tradition to celebrate a quinceanera. Now everything is hyper expensive in our country. Everything is handled based on the US dollar, our Bolivars do not have much weight due to inflation, we are practically dollarized... The music that we hired was 80 or 90 US dollars."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Genesis Gonzalez arranges her mortarboard before posing for a photograph at Valle Arriba lookout point in Caracas. Genesis's father, Rafael, said, "My daughter is a Psychology Graduate of the Catholic University Andres Bello, despite the adversity, we must celebrate these things."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A man looks at pinatas at a birthday supplies shop in Caracas. The manager of the shop said, "People were coming after work or early on Saturdays to buy birthday supplies. Now few people come."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Children walk along a breakwater at Coral beach in La Guaira near Caracas. "A person who has a minimum wage can't come [to the beach]. The anguish that has all Venezuelans is food. First the flour and the rice." said Carla Cordova
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Yeafersonth Manrique whose nickname is B-Boy Chispa practices break dancing at the Teresa Carreno theatre area where he meets friends to dance. "When we're out here dancing, we don't think about the state of the country," said Yeafersonth Manrique, a 24-year-old drenched in sweat after a long practice. "In this world there is no crisis."
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Neidi Luzardo and his relative enjoy a ride at the Italo Americano amusement park. "The most common fun for a Caraqueno is a beach day," said Luzardo
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Belinda, a former teacher, laughs after taking a photograph of graffiti which reads 'Normality is a privilege?' in Caracas. "We, the Venezuelan people, make a joke of everything," said Belinda
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Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A woman holds a child as they get ready to hit a pinata at a birthday party celebration in Caracas
Reuters
Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Victor floats in the sea as he spends a day at Coral beach
Reuters
Rafael Alfonso , director of operations for the embassy, said it appeared unlikely that the remaining activists would be removed from the embassy Monday night and that the situation would be revisited sometime on Tuesday. Mr Alfonso said once the building had been cleared of activists, he would assess any damage on behalf of the embassy.
It was not clear Monday night which U.S. agency issued the eviction notice, though Secret Service agents and District of Columbia police surrounded the embassy.
Carlos Vecchio , whom the US recognises as Venezuela's ambassador, tweeted that "next steps" will be announced soon.
AP
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