Matias Delacroix, AFP | Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido is greeted by supporters upon his arrival in Caracas on March 4, 2019.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido defied the threat of arrest to return home on Monday, arriving at Caracas international airport where he was met by cheering supporters, television footage showed.

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Guaido landed at the country's main airport, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Caracas. He said in a tweet he had successfully passed through immigration checks.

Entramos a Venezuela como ciudadanos libres, que nadie nos diga lo contrario.



Ya sintiendo mi Sol de La Guaira, el brio del pueblo que nos esperó aquí.



#VamosBien #VamosJuntosALaCalle Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) 4 mars 2019

"We know the risks that we face, that's never stopped us," the 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly said as he moved through a crowd that included several Western ambassadors. The United States and about 50 other countries have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader, arguing that last year's re-election of Maduro was illegitimate because popular opposition candidates were barred from running.

"The regime must understand, the dictatorship must understand... that we're stronger than ever. We'll continue protesting, we'll continue mobilizing," said Guaido, who had ignored an official ban on foreign travel to leave Venezuela, first for Colombia and then elsewhere in Latin America.

Guaido had called for nationwide demonstrations coinciding with his arrival and thousands of supporters heeded the call, peacefully gathering at a Caracas plaza and in other locations around the country.

After leaving the airport, Guaido headed into Caracas where he was given a hero's welcome by his supporters.

There, Guaido announced a new protest march for Saturday to ramp up the pressure on Maduro.

"All of Venezuela will return to the streets. We will not rest one second until freedom is achieved," he said.

Venezuelans holding aloft flags, crosses and portraits of their young leader chanted: "Guaido! Guaido!" and "Yes you can!"

US warns Maduro

Just before his arrival, US Vice President Mike Pence sent a warning to Maduro to ensure Guaido's safety, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later hailed his "safe return".

"Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated & will be met with swift response," Pence wrote on Twitter.

Pompeo said in a statement that "the international community must unite and push for the end of Maduro's brutal regime."

Maduro has said he is the target of a US-backed coup plot after the Trump administration joined dozens of other countries in recognizing Guaido as the rightful president of a nation in the midst of a political and humanitarian crisis.

Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, did not directly address a question about whether Guaido faces arrest during a recent interview with Russian state-owned TV channel RT. But she left open the possibility, saying Guaido had broken the law and is "a Venezuelan who conspires with foreign governments to overthrow a constitutional government."

Maduro, meanwhile, has urged Venezuelans to enjoy the carnival season slated for Monday and Tuesday, even though many people do not have the resources to travel to beaches and other holiday spots.

Venezuela 'politically polarised' on Guaido return

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)

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