Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro has accused opposition supporters of trying to impose an "illegitimate government" after a day of intense violence.

Yesterday opposition leader Juan Guaido called on the military to back him in what he called the "final phase" of his plan to oust President Maduro.

In a defiant television appearance overnight, he said Venezuela had been the victim of "aggression of all kinds" and accused the US and Colombia of backing opponents of his regime.

He said the attempted coup was driven by the “evil obsession of the ultra-right opposition, by the Colombian oligarchy and by US imperialism.”

He insisted the armed forces remained loyal and said the Government was confronting a small group of "military traitors."

In this photo released by the Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a televised national message at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, 30-04-2019. Image: Miraflores Press Office

Street fighting

Around 50 protesters were hospitalised after armoured vehicles from the National Guard drove into them during the unrest.

Paramilitary police also shot at protesters – with both sides fighting running battles through the streets of the capital Caracas as the day wore on.

A doctor at a medical centre in the city said 52 people were being treated for injuries sustained during the demonstrations.

Self proclaimed interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, is seen talking on the phone during a military coup in Caracas, 30-04-2019. Image: SOPA Images/SIPA USA/PA Images

"Unstoppable"

In his own address, Mr Guaido urged the protesters not to be intimidated – and called on them to take to the streets again today.

He spent much of yesterday addressing supporters online.

On Twitter he said: “We are in a process that is unstoppable.

“We have the firm backing of our people and the world to achieve the restoration of our democracy.”

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo told CNN that President Maduro had been preparing to leave the country on Tuesday but changed his mind after Russia intervened.

Economy

Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves but, despite once being South America's richest nation, its economy is now in freefall.

The US has imposed crippling sanctions on the Maduro government, in particular targeting its oil supplies.

There are shortages of food and medicine and more than 3 million Venezuelans have left the country in the past five years.

Additional reporting from IRN ...