Venezuelan general defects as mass protest against Nicolas Maduro starts

[Daliath.]

A Venezuelan air force general has defected from President Nicolas Maduro's administration as anti-government protests take place in Caracas.

General Francisco Yanez called on people to participate in demonstrations against the socialist leader's rule, and claimed 90% of the country's armed forces are against Mr Maduro. He embattled president proposed holding congressional elections early in a speech to his supporters on Saturday, after hundreds of thousands of marchers flooded the streets of Caracas to demand his resignation.

Many had flags and placards as they supported opposition leader Juan Guaido's calls for democratic elections.

The protesters planned to converge on the European Union headquarters in eastern Caracas from five staging areas around the city. But... there's hundreds of thousands of people on the streets. It's absolutely packed with people.

"They're coming from all over Caracas, they're shouting 'Yes we can', the phrase Obama made famous, and they're saying 'Freedom, freedom'."

Pro-Maduro forces have been rallying in the western side of the city to mark the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of the late Hugo Chavez, the leftist firebrand who installed a socialist government. He told his supporters: "I say to those on the right (opposition), reflect on 20 years of conspiracy, 20 years of coup after coup, of defeat after defeat. When are you going to stop hurting the country? Stop already doing so much damage, that you have done to our country."

He added: "Venezuela is not a country of beggars, we are no one's beggars. All we need we can and we must produce it in Venezuela, a country with no shame but dignity, a country of honour.

"I am very ashamed to see this group of opposition coup perpetrators, how they order them (to do things) from Washington."

"Trickery, trickery and more trickery!"