A general from the Venezuelan air force has announced he no longer recognises Nicolas Maduro as the country's president, in what appears to be the highest ranking military defection to hit the regime.

In a video circulating on social media on Saturday ahead of mass protests planned in Caracas, General Francisco Esteban Yanez Rodriguez says he has disavowed the "dictatorial" authority of Mr Maduro and now recognises Juan Guaido, the self-declared interim president, as Venezuela's leader.

Wearing military uniform, Gen. Yanez identifies himself as director of strategic planning in the high command of the Venezuelan air force. His role and identity corresponds with that listed on the force's website.

The general claims that 90 per cent of the country's armed forces "are not with the dictator, they are with the people of Venezuela".

"The transition to democracy is imminent," he says, urging Venezuelans to come out peacefully into the streets in support of Mr Guaido.

Gen. Yanez also calls on members of the armed forces not to protect Mr Maduro, saying that if they are afraid of backing Mr Guaido openly due to internal threats, they should "stay at home".

"The people have already suffered enough", he says, describing repression and deaths from hunger and lack of medicines. "Do not repress (them) any more."