Jan 9 (Reuters) – Nine people considered political prisoners by a leading Venezuelan rights ‌group ​had been released by Friday afternoon as part ‌of an effort praised by U.S. President Donald Trump, the group said, with families of others ​anxiously waiting to hear if their relatives would also be freed. Human rights groups, international bodies and opposition figures – including Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, ‍who has several close allies imprisoned – have ​long demanded the release from Venezuelan jails of some 800 people they consider political prisoners. Trump said in a post on Truth Social earlier on ​Friday that he had ⁠canceled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela following cooperation from the South American nation, and that Venezuela was releasing “large numbers of political prisoners.” Both Venezuela’s top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez, the brother of acting President Delcy Rodriguez, and Trump said the releases are a gesture of peace. There is no official list of exactly how many prisoners will be released nor who they are. The releases come during a week of political turmoil …