Tear gas has been fired as clashes broke out in Caracas following a video released by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, in which he called for a full-scale military uprising against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro’s spokesman has confirmed that a coup is underway in Venezuela, while the country’s defense minister said: “We reject this coup movement that aims to fill the country with violence.”

Footage shows tear-gas canisters being fired near the Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda, or 'La Carlota', air force base. One witness told Reuters that the gas is being fired towards Guaido, who appears to have gathered about 70 men in military uniform.

In one video taken close to the airbase, gunfire is heard erupting. Reports claimed that men in military uniforms, who accompanied Guaido, exchanged fire with Venezuelan soldiers.

National Guard armored vehicles have also been filmed on the streets of the capital Caracas.

National Guard armoured vehicles move through the streets of Chacao in #Caracashttps://t.co/UERT2LbZN9pic.twitter.com/6bFBwSm5Zq — RT (@RT_com) April 30, 2019

Guaido, the self-declared interim president, released a video on Tuesday morning appealing to the Venezuelan military to take part in a coup. The footage was apparently shot at a Caracas airbase and followed an earlier tweet from Guaido, in which he claimed to be meeting with “key military units” for what he described as “the beginning of the final phase of Operation Freedom.”

Also on rt.com US-backed Guaido calls for Venezuela military uprising in VIDEO of him surrounded by soldiers

In a series of tweets, Venezuelan Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that government forces are “currently confronting… a small group of military traitors” who sought to “promote a coup against the constitution and peace of the republic.” He urged Venezuelans to remain on “high alert” and support efforts to defeat the attempted coup.

Informamos al pueblo de Venezuela que en estos momentos estamos enfrentando y desactivando a un reducido grupo de efectivos militares traidores que se posicionaron en el Distribuidor Altamira para promover un Golpe de Estado contra la Constitución y la paz de la República... 1/2 — Jorge Rodríguez (@jorgerpsuv) April 30, 2019 A este intento se agregó la ultraderecha golpista y asesina, que anunció su agenda violenta desde hace meses.Llamamos al pueblo a mantenerse en alerta máxima para,junto a la gloriosa Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana,derrotar el intento de golpe y preservar La Paz.Venceremos 2/2 — Jorge Rodríguez (@jorgerpsuv) April 30, 2019

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