Maduro appears with defence minister as Guaido calls to continue 'Operation Freedom'

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido called for a fresh round of protests on Wednesday against President Nicolas Maduro, after clashes broke out between security forces and anti-regime demonstrators.

"I am calling on the armed forces to continue their march in 'Operation Freedom.' Tomorrow, May 1, we will continue... across all of Venezuela, we will be on the streets," Guaido said in a video message released on social media.

Meanwhile, Maduro appeared in a state television broadcast on Tuesday night together with defence minister Vladimir Padrino, his first public appearance since the opposition called for a military uprising earlier in the day.

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Maduro said in the broadcast he had reinstated Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez as the head of the Sebin intelligence agency, without providing details on the exit of Manuel Cristopher Figuera at the helm of the agency. Cristopher Figuera replaced Gonzalez Lopez at Sebin last year.

Guaido has vowed that protests on Wednesday for the May 1 workers' holiday will be the biggest in Venezuela's history, heightening fears that the crisis will turn violent.

The State Department in a travel alert advised US citizens in Venezuela to take shelter in the coming days if they cannot leave the country.

Meanwhile, the United States threw its full weight behind Guaido, as the opposition leader said troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

"The US Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy. Democracy cannot be defeated," Pompeo wrote. The US Treasury Department said the US and its allies stood ready "to leverage the tools of the international financial community to help swiftly restart Venezuela's economy."

In a video recorded at a Caracas military air base posted on social media, the US-backed Guaido said troops had heeded months of urging to join his campaign to oust Maduro.

(With inputs from agencies)