Leading TV Journalist Kidnapped in Venezuela

The father of a Venezuelan TV journalist says his daughter has been kidnapped by armed, masked men in the western section of the capital of Caracas.

Luis Pinto said Monday that his daughter Nairobi Pinto was taken hostage Sunday afternoon at the entrance to the building where she lives. She is the chief of correspondents for the Globovision news channel and her whereabouts remain unknown.

The elder Pinto called on the kidnappers to free his daughter during an interview with the local broadcaster Union Radio.

Police have not commented on the case.

Venezuela is among the most violent countries in Latin America. During a month and a half of ongoing protests, demonstrators have complained about high crime rates, along with soaring inflation and the scarcity of basic goods.