Juan Guaido returning to Venezuela as US issues warning to President Nicolas Maduro

Opposition leader sneaked out of the country in February and has been touring the region trying to build support from neighbours

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Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido in Salinas, Ecuador on Saturday. Photo: TNS

Published: 10:46pm, 4 Mar 2019Updated: 1:32am, 5 Mar 2019

Washington has warned Nicolas Maduro he faces a “strong and significant response” if his rival, Juan Guaido, is detained or threatened as he tries to re-enter Venezuela on Monday before a day of fresh protests.

Guaido sneaked out of Venezuela on the eve of a failed bid to force aid into the economically ravaged country on February 23 and subsequently set off on a five-nation tour of South America.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores visit the building site of a hotel complex in Caraballeda, Venezuela on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

The 35-year-old visited Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay despite a travel ban introduced after his decision to challenge Maduro by declaring himself Venezuela’s rightful interim president.

Some western governments now recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate interim president but he enjoys little concrete power in Venezuela.

In an online broadcast on Sunday night, Guaido urged followers not to lose hope and called a new round of nationwide street protests for Monday to coincide with his attempt to return home.

Juan Guaido returning to Venezuela as US issues warning to President Nicolas Maduro

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Opposition leader sneaked out of the country in February and has been touring the region trying to build support from neighbours

Opposition leader sneaked out of the country in February and has been touring the region trying to build support from neighbours