VENEZUELAN opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was convicted on Thursday of inciting deadly anti-government riots last year.

The Popular Will (VP) party leader received the maximum possible sentence of almost 14 years’ imprisonment for public incitement to violence and criminal association.

His lawyers vowed to appeal against the 13-year, nine-month jail term. He had already spent 18 months in jail before the verdict was delivered, largely due to delaying tactics by his legal team.