Anti-government protests take to streets of Venezuela

Anti-government protesters took to the streets of Venezuela in a struggle for control of the crisis-wracked nation. Speaking before several thousand people at Caracas avenue, opposition leader Juan Guaido urged them to stay united and to keep up pressure until Maduro leaves power.

Caracas: Rival political factions took to the streets across Venezuela on Saturday in a mounting struggle for control of the crisis-wracked nation, where US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido is attempting to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

It was the first march Guaido has led since Maduro loyalists stripped him of legal protections he's granted as a congressman, opening a path to prosecute and possibly arrest him for allegedly violating the constitution.

The rallies also follow crippling power failures that left most of the country scrambling in the dark for days and without running water or phone service.

Speaking before several thousand people who packed a broad Caracas avenue, Guaido urged them to stay united and to keep up pressure until Maduro leaves power.

"We have assumed a plan, Venezuela, we have assumed a strategy, a commitment and an oath with God together with our people and our country," Guaido said to a crowd of supporters.

"And nothing will stop us until we achieve it," he said.

Guaido tried to channel Venezuelans' ire by calling crowds in the capital to march to the headquarters of the national power utility, Corpoelec.

Many opposition supporters marched along a sunny main avenue carrying Venezuelan flags.

Guaido, 35, arose from relative obscurity in January when he was named head of Venezuela's opposition-dominated National Assembly and said he was assuming presidential powers to force Maduro from power. He says Maduro is illegitimate due to allegedly fraudulent elections last year.

He has gained support from Washington and roughly 50 nations, but he has yet to budge Maduro, who maintains control over the government and military and is backed by foreign allies including China, Cuba and Russia.