Venezuela's Guaido calls for nationwide march on Caracas

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday announced a nationwide march on Caracas as thousands of people took to the capital's streets to crank up the pressure on beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro.

Brandishing a loud speaker, Guaido told thousands of supporters he would embark on a tour of the country before leading a nationwide march on the capital.

"Once we've finished the tour, the organization in every state, we'll announce the date when all together we'll come to Caracas," said the 35-year-old leader of the legislature, who is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries.

"Miraflores, Miraflores!" chanted Guaido's supporters in response, a reference to the presidential palace currently occupied by Maduro. Guaido threatened to call on outside intervention "when the time comes," pointing to the constitution, which authorizes "the use of a Venezuelan military mission abroad, or foreigners inside the country." "Intervention, intervention!" cried his supporters.

"All the options are on the table," added the National Assembly president, using a phrase employed by US President Donald Trump, who has consistently refused to rule out a military intervention in Venezuela.

Guaido was speaking from the back of a pick-up truck after security services prevented the opposition from setting up a stage at their original protest site, arresting three people.

Some 20 armoured anti-riot vehicles were stationed on a highway that leads to the main avenue in the east of Caracas, where the opposition march was due to take place.

Guaido is trying to force out Maduro -- whose May re-election he deems illegitimate -- in order to set up new polls.

Maduro also called out his supporters to protest against "imperialism" in a march that marks four years since the United States branded Venezuela a "threat" to its security and imposed sanctions.

"Today, more than ever, we're anti-imperialists. We will never surrender!" Maduro wrote on Twitter.

The mounting political pressure comes as authorities struggled to restore power following a major electricity outage that began on Thursday afternoon.

Maduro told supporters that almost 70 per cent of power had been restored but at midday there was another cyber "attack at one of the generators that was working perfectly and that disturbed and undid everything we had achieved."
"I share the feeling of despair, I have lost relatives due to the lack of medicine," said Guaido, who told supporters that "there's no other option to get out of this without street mobilization."