Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido says he has started the "final phase" of his plan to oust President Nicolas Maduro, calling on the army to join him.

Seen with soldiers in uniform, Mr Guaido called on "heroes of the army" to stand with him tomorrow for the "largest march in Venezuela's history".

He called it a part of the "definitive phase" of his effort to take office in order to call fresh elections.

Image: Juan Guaido posted the video from Caracas airbase La Carlota

Image: Nicolas Maduro speaking to his supporters at a rally in February

In a video posted to his Twitter account from the airbase La Carlota, Mr Guaido was with opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, who is meant to be under house arrest.

"The national armed forces have taken the correct decision, and they count on the support of the Venezuelan people," Mr Guaido said.


Venezuela's government says it is confronting a small group of "military traitors" who are seeking to promote a coup, information minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Twitter.

Sky's diplomatic editor Dominic Waghorn said: "The military has remained loyal to Maduro and has not switched sides, yet Guaido seems to be indicating - or certainly saying in public - that that is beginning to happen."

The country's defence minister, however, says armed forces remain "firmly in defence of the national constitution and legitimate authorities".

Diosdado Cabello, the head of Venezuela's pro-government constituent assembly, has called on supporters of President Maduro to rally at the presidential palace.

Image: Mr Guaido shaking hands with a military member

Troops loyal to Mr Maduro sporadically fired tear gas from inside the adjacent Carlota airbase as the crowd of a few hundred civilians, some of them brandishing Venezuelan flags, scurried for cover.

According to witnesses, tear gas may have been fired at Mr Guaido.

The crowd swelled to a few thousand as people sensed what could be their strongest opportunity yet to overthrow the government after months of turmoil.

Mr Maduro has managed to withstand an onslaught of protests and international pressure with the support of his top military command and allies such as Russia and Cuba.

The White House says Donald Trump has been briefed and is monitoring the situation.

Today interim President Juan Guaido announced start of Operación Libertad. The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy. Democracy cannot be defeated. #EstamosUnidosVE — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) April 30, 2019

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said the US stands with Mr Guaido and called for "a peaceful transition of power".

She added: "We're watching and we're waiting. We hope the result is democracy and freedom for the people."

But Russia's foreign ministry said the Venezuelan opposition was resorting to "methods of violent confrontation".

Image: Tear gas has been fired

Mr Guaido, the leader of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, arguing that Mr Maduro's re-election in 2018 was illegitimate.

Mr Maduro says Mr Guaido is a US-backed puppet.

The government has arrested his top aide, stripped Mr Guaido of his parliamentary immunity and opened multiple investigations into him.