Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido said on Tuesday he had began the 'final phase' of his plan to oust President Nicolas Maduro, as troops joined his campaign to end Maduro's 'usurpation'.
Guaido, in a video posted on his Twitter account, called on Venezuelans and the military to join him on the streets, as government vowed to put down what it said was an attempted coup.
In the three-minute video Guaido, speaking in the company of men in military uniform and opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, said he was at the Caracas air base La Carlota.
Soldiers who took to the streets would be acting to protect Venezuela's constitution, Guaido said. He made the comments a day before a planned anti-government rally.
'The moment is now,' he said, as his political mentor Lopez and several heavily armed soldiers backed by a single armored vehicle looked on.
Lopez has been under house arrest for leading an anti-government push in 2014.
Making his first public appearance since his detention, Mr Lopez said: 'This is the moment of all Venezuelans, those in uniform and those who aren't.
'Everyone should come to the streets, in peace.'
Lopez said he had been 'freed' from jail by soldiers supporting Guaido. He posted a picture on Twitter with men in uniform from the Carlota military base.
'Venezuela: the definitive phase to end the usurpation, Operation Liberty, has begun,' read the message.
US-backed Mr Guaido also said 'the end of the usurpation' was beginning against the Maduro goverment.
'In this moment I am meeting with the principal military units of our Armed Forces giving the start to the final phase of Operation Liberty,' he added.
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'The national armed forces have taken the correct decision, and they count on the support of the Venezuelan people,' Guaido said.
Venezuela's information Minister Jorge Rodriguez responded on Twitter, saying the government is confronting a small group of 'military traitors' that are seeking to promote a coup.
Mr Rodriguez tweeted: 'We inform the people of Venezuela at the moment we are confronting and deactivating a reduced group of military traitors who are positioning themselves in the Distribuidor Altamira (neighbourhood) to promote a coup d'etat against the constitution and the peace of the Republic.
'To this intent is added the putschist and murderous ultra right which announced its violent agenda months ago.
'We call on the people to maintain maximum alert so, together the glorious National Armed Bolivarian forces defeat the intent to mount a coup and preserve the peace. We will win.'
Venezuela's socialist party boss, Diosdado Cabello, called on government supporters to amass at the presidential palace to defend Maduro.
Guaido invoked the constitution to assume the interim presidency in January after declaring Maduro's re-election a fraud.
He has the support of more than 50 countries, including the United States, which also recognise him as interim president.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
