Washington, May 1 (RHC)-- As the attempted coup in Venezuela's capital slowly fades away, tensions were still high at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington D.C. on Tuesday as activists defending the premises with Venezuela's authorization have reported U.S. Secret Service surrounding and photographing the building, while a small group of opposition protesters gathers outside.

“Activists are risking arrest in defense of the sovereignty of the embassy and at the invitation of the legitimate government.  Police are expected to raid the embassy any moment,” according to activist Alex Rubinstein, reporting from inside the diplomatic mission.

The Embassy Protection Collective, invited and authorized by the Venezuelan government, entered the building several weeks ago as the country’s diplomatic premises in the United States have been forcibly seized by Washington-backed agents.  Since then, dozens of volunteers have defended the building from being occupied by opposition supporters.

On Tuesday, teleSUR correspondent Alina Duarte reported: “An opposition Venezuelan tried to enter the Embassy of Venezuela in Washington through the back door.  At the same time, the U.S. Secret Service looks into the windows of the facilities and activists remain inside and outside the Embassy protecting it.”