Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Venezuela’s capital Caracas in support of President Nicolás Maduro – and his self-proclaimed interim successor Juan Guaidó.
Mr Guaidó said the country’s opposition movement would “carry on in the streets”. Mr Maduro told supporters he was the only president of Venezuela.
Mr Guaidó declared himself president last month and is backed by the US and several Latin American countries.
Russia and China back President Maduro.
The stand-off began days after Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term, following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them.
Mr Guaidó, who is head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate.
Addressing thousands of supporters in the capital Caracas, Mr Guaidó said protests would continue until his supporters achieved “freedom”.
But a pro-Maduro crowd gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of his predecessor, the socialist leader Hugo Chávez. Mr Maduro accused international media of ignoring demonstrations by pro-government supporters.
The rival protests come a day ahead of a deadline given to Mr Maduro by major European countries to announce new presidential elections – otherwise they would also recognise Mr Guaidó.
Military support is seen as crucial to Mr Maduro’s hold on power. Many supporters at Saturday’s rally were seen wearing the khaki uniforms of the government militia.
Ahead of the protests, a high-ranking Air Force general announced his support for Mr Guaidó in a video message posted online.
Gen Francisco Yanez, the force’s head of strategic planning, called on other members of the military to join him in defecting. It is not clear when or where the message was recorded.
In response, the Air Force’s high command accused him of treason.
But US National Security Adviser John Bolton called on the rest of the country’s military to join forces with Gen Francisco Yanez.
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Source: BBC