DHAKA: Hundreds of thousands of people have marched through the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, in rival demonstrations.

Opposition supporters, staging their largest rally for two years, called for President Nicolas Maduro’s removal.

They blame him for Venezuela’s economic crisis and accuse the electoral commission of delaying a referendum that could shorten his stay in power, reports the BBC.

Maduro, whose supporters also rallied in huge numbers, accused the opposition of trying to stage a coup.

The government said the opposition had failed to attract the one million people they were expecting in their march, in what the authorities dubbed the “Takeover of Caracas”.

“The nation has triumphed. They wanted to intimidate the people but the people are here,” said Maduro at a rally in central Caracas.

“We have defeated an attempted coup that tried to fill Venezuela and Caracas with violence, death,” he said.

But opposition leaders said their protest had gathered at least their anticipated one million people.

“We have shown to the world the importance of Venezuela and how much it wants change,” said opposition politician Jesus Torrealba.

Dressed predominantly in white, they chanted “we are going to bring down Maduro”.

Protesters said they had enough of the policies of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

“We are going to defeat hunger, crime, inflation and corruption. They have done nothing in 17 years. Their time is finished,” said Naty Gutierrez.

In the run-up to the march, a number of opposition politicians were detained.

BDST: 0958 HRS, SEP 02, 2016
BD