The Americas

Venezuelans take the streets as power-struggle intensifies

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido speaks to supporters during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 5, 2019. The U.S. and about 50 other countries contend Nicolas Maduro's election last year was illegitimate and support Guaido's claim to the presidency. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A supporter of opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, cheers him on during a rally in a west side neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 5, 2019. At the start of his speech, Guaido acknowledged Venezuela is going through "a very difficult transition", asking for further support to help him topple President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Rival political factions are taking to the streets across Venezuela in a mounting struggle for control of the crisis-wracked nation.

Small groups of backers of opposition leader Juan Guaidó carrying Venezuelan flags and holding signs demanding liberty are gathering at concentration points Saturday to protest repeated power outages.

Guaidó is trying to oust President Nicolás Maduro, whose backers shared coffee as they gathered around a stage blasting music ahead of a march to the presidential palace.

It will be the first march Guaidó has led since Maduro loyalists stripped the opposition leader of legal protections he's granted as a lawmaker, opening a path to prosecute and possibly arrest him for allegedly violating the constitution.